• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Candidly Christian

Real Women. Real Life. Real Faith.

  • Blog
    • Most Recent
    • The Gospel
    • Faith
    • Prayer
    • Self Worth
    • Anxiety
    • Chronic Pain
    • Marriage
    • Parenting
  • Resources
    • Candid Books
    • Free Resources
    • Recommended Resources
    • Resources For Christian Bloggers
      • Blog Post Checklist
      • Christian Link-Ups
  • Scriptures to Live By
    • Bible Verses for When the Struggle is Real
      • Bible Verses for When You Feel Worthless
      • Scriptures for When Your Heart is Hurting
      • A Scripture To Trust God When You’re Afraid
      • Scriptures for When You Feel Inadequate
      • 3 Scriptures to Find Balance in an Unbalanced World
      • 5 Bible Verses for When You Feel Alone
      • 6 Bible Verses to Read When You Feel Anxious
      • 5 Life Gives You Lemons Verses
    • Scriptures for When You Need Help
      • Scriptures to Help You Overcome Self-Pity
      • Bible Verses to Help You Memorize Scripture
      • 5 Bible Verses to Help You Sleep
    • Scriptures to Live By When You’re Living for Jesus
      • Bible Verses About Hope
      • Bible Verses About God’s Love
      • 5 Bible Verses on Patience
      • Scriptures for the New Year
  • Learn More
    • About Our Ministry
    • Meet The Candid Gals
    • Contact Us
    • Belief Statement
    • The Legal Stuff
  • Get Involved
    • Join Our Prayer Team
    • Join Us For A Candid Anthology
    • Be Our Guest
    • Become a Candid Gal
    • Contact Us
  • Why Jesus?
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Grief And Hope During The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Grief And Hope During The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Sheila Schweiger-Rhodes · December 20, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Christmas is coming. The song tells us, “It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” But sometimes we don’t feel like it is. Life is a struggle as we continue to go through this pandemic. Many of us have experienced or know someone who has experienced a loss in some form. Maybe you have lost your job, your home, or worse, someone you love. It is understandable to feel sad and overwhelmed. I understand if you are feeling anything but wonderful because I have my own moments. I don’t blame you for wanting to close the door and pull the blinds and shut out the world.  

Grief is Hard

It is difficult to feel happy when your heart is breaking into a million tiny pieces. There isn’t a magical date when you get over or through a loss, because grief is a necessary process. Some losses are much harder to maneuver through than others. In the loss of loved ones, it is learning to live with the memories and allowing yourself to move forward by living in the present. Memories are God’s way of healing our hearts. The truth is, not every memory we hold is perfect, filling you with warm fuzzies. Some memories bring angst, deep regret, and sadness. Other memories bring great joy that leaves you longing for the past. The bottom line is grief is never easy.

Jesus Knows All About Grief

Some days are more challenging to process than others. Some days, you feel like you can’t carry the weight of your sorrow. Grief can be suffocating, isolating, and pain-crushing. No one can tell you how long to grieve. Grieving is an individual process, and every journey is different. Take your time, and let the tears fall. Tears are healing, and when you think you can’t cry anymore, they appear out of nowhere. But rest assured that Jesus sees every tear and captures them on your behalf. Jesus knows what grief is all about too.

Three ways to find hope for the grieving… Click To Tweet

The Hope of Christmas

Yes, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. However, it is about more than His birth. Christmas is about the hope of Christ. The sweet baby born that night was bringing hope into the world for all of us. He brought the hope and the promise that our grief and sorrow are temporary. 

Paul reminds us of this truth in the second Book of Corinthians! 

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16-20

While Jesus was on the earth, He experienced grief too. He lost family, friends, his home, and his own life. It wasn’t an easy road that Jesus walked, either. So, how do we move forward? By His example. We focus on and remember the hope of Christ. 

One of the last few things that Jesus said on the cross was:

Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

Luke 23:34
Grief and Hope during the most wonderful time of the year

Change Your Focus

Jesus took the focus off from Himself and onto the Father for each of us. He knew His grief was temporary, but it didn’t make it any less painful or real. Jesus wasn’t just talking about the Roman soldiers who had placed Him on the cross that day. He was talking about you and me. Yes, grief is complicated, but if Jesus could bear the suffering of the present circumstances and focus on the eternal, we can too with His help. 

It is easy to focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. It doesn’t mean we can’t grieve for what was lost, but by changing the focus outward instead of dwelling inward on ourselves, our hearts are opened to healing and believing in the hope of Christ once again.  

Redemption for Humanity Begins with a Baby

There are things in life we can’t change no matter how hard we try. But, it doesn’t mean things can’t get better. The birth of a tiny baby boy would fulfill the prophecy of redemption for all humanity. His redemption would bring true joy to the world and a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Candid Gal Sheila Schweiger-Rhodes shares how to find hope when you're grieving during the holidays Click To Tweet

Don’t Forget About It

This Christmas, let’s remember why it is the most wonderful time of the year. Here are some ways I found helpful to get through this season and find joy during a difficult time. 

Pray About It

Do the same thing that Jesus did in His grief. Pray to the Father! You don’t have to have all the words because your Father knows your heart. Tell Him what you need. I can promise you He won’t leave you stranded. My first Christmas without my mom was hard, but the more I talked to Jesus about my grief, the more peace He gave me. 

Talk About It

It is okay to talk about your loss. Whatever type of loss you are grieving, be honest with how you are feeling. Many times, people will avoid the subject because they don’t want to cause you pain. However, dodging the issue makes it worse. Be honest and share your thoughts. You may find someone else needs to talk about their grief as much as you need to talk about yours. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are some great counselors equipped to help you through a difficult time. A counseling session is an excellent gift for yourself. 

Write About It

You don’t have to be a writer to place your thoughts on paper. Writing is an expression of thinking, doing, and seeing it visually in front of you. It is about embracing the memories. Yes, there are some things you might not want to remember, but studies have shown the more senses you use, the better when working through difficulties. I found writing out scriptures on paper reminds me of who Jesus is to me was very helpful and healing. Here are some of my favorites: Deuteronomy 31:8, Psalm 9:9-10, Psalm 30:5, and Psalm 34:18-19.

We Have Hope

Life will never be perfect here on this earth because of sin, but Jesus made it wonderful. Everything that has caused us grief on this earth will one day be gone. But, despite our temporary sorrows and difficulties, we have the hope and future of a better life. What we couldn’t do for ourselves, Jesus did for us. This reminder is why it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. 

No More Grief

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Revelation 21:4

Christmas doesn’t have to feel wonderful to be wonderful. It is wonderful because of who Jesus is and what He did for each of us. Sometimes I have to remind myself this is the only heaven the enemy is ever going to get. Soon his tricks, schemes, and power-play will be done, and grief will be no more. Our tears from our hurts will be wiped away, and our suffering, sorrow, and pain from a world gone crazy will be eliminated and forgotten. 

The Most Wonderful Name

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas! May this Christmas be your most wonderful time of the year as you remember where true peace, love, and hope reside. Hope resides in our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father who is our Prince of Peace.


Shopping, presents, and gatherings, oh my. The holiday season bursts at the seams with all the hustle and bustle, but it’s never too busy for Jesus. Take a step back this year and spend a few moments with your Savoir each day in Christmas with Jesus. This short devotional contains 25 devotions for December from various authors who love Jesus just as much as you do.

Related Posts

  • Breaking through to Abundant Life
  • Slow Down and Stand In Awe
  • Called: A Candid Moment
  • 4 Steps to Trust God When You’re Anxious
  • 3 Steps to Overcome Laziness

About Sheila Schweiger-Rhodes

Sheila Schweiger-Rhodes is an author, speaker, blogger and the founder of JesusGlitter.com where she encourages others to look for Jesus in the everyday moments of life and "Be the Sparkle!" Sheila has been described as deeply passionate, profoundly uplifting and completely authentic. Her passion is to share the message of God's redeeming love and offer the encouragement, love and hope to those who have been wounded by life. Sheila resides in Maryland with her husband Dave. Together they have formed a blended family of four adult children and three grandchildren.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Let's Get Candid

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Spirit Lead Me: 2 Simple Steps For Seeking The Holy Spirit
  • New Eyes & Excessive Worry
  • Jesus and the Woman at the Well
  • 3 Truths I’m Learning About Spiritual Warfare
  • To the One Whose Faith is Hanging on by a Thread

Recent Videos

Weekly LinkUps

Salt and Light Grace and Truth

More Christian Link-Ups

Candid Conversations

Click here to find out more.

Our Most Popular Posts

  • 5 Verses to Help You Overcome Self-Pity
  • 5 Bible Verses for When You Feel Worthless
  • 3 Steps to Overcome Laziness
  • My (winning) Battle with Health Anxiety
  • Confessions of a Woman in Ministry

Support Our Ministry

Christian Books
Prayer Team
Visit Heather's Etsy Shop
Support Candidly Christian
Please note that CandidlyChristian.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.
Click here to find out more

Who’s Behind The Scenes?

Heather Hart
Candidly Christian was founded by Heather Hart; an internationally best-selling and award-winning author with a passion for the gospel of Jesus and a heart for women’s ministry. Her goal isn’t to teach women how they can do better, be better, or achieve perfection, it’s to point them to Jesus.

Click here to learn more about Heather Hart and the rest of the Candid Gals.

Posts by Author

Heather Hart
Jaime Hampton
Mariel Davenport
Sarah J Callen
Sheila Schweiger-Rhodes
Sherry Chamblee
Stephanie M. Carter
Valerie Riese
See Your Name Here
Candid Guests

Our Favorite Planner

The Hope Planner
Affiliate Link

Candidly Christian Has Been Featured On…

Grace and Truth Link-Up Christian Blogger Directory

Top Christian Women Blog

© 2016–2022 | Privacy | Home

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT