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. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! - Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT)

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Hey there! My name is Jackson and welcome to day seven of our “Christmas is” Advent Devotional. There are probably several of you out there who have been following our journey so far and would say to yourself, “You know, these daily thoughts have been encouraging and inspiring, but to be completely honest, this Christmas doesn’t feel like the most wonderful time of the year.” If that’s you, you’re not alone!

I thought it would be helpful to pause today and acknowledge the fact that Christmas can be and is difficult. Maybe this is going to be the first Christmas without mom or dad, or maybe it’s the first year of not being able to see family because of COVID restrictions. Whatever your reason is, it’s okay to recognize and admit the fact that Christmas 2020 is different and it’s difficult. Knowing that, I also want to encourage you with the reminder that the baby born in a manger all those years ago turned into a King over all people, all nations, and yes, even all circumstances.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

These aren’t just names; they’re declarations describing the kind of God we serve! So today, don’t shove aside or sweep whatever difficult emotions you might be feeling under a rug. The Bible doesn’t teach us that we have to hide or mask our emotions. But I do want to remind you that you don’t have to stay there. Don’t allow the difficulties of today to overshadow the truth of what it means that Jesus is King over all people for all seasons.