By Pastor Dan Walz, Lakeside Baptist Church
Christmas is my favourite time of year. The lights, the carols, the sense of joy—it’s a season unlike any other. But I know it’s not always joyful for everyone, and I’ve experienced that firsthand.
Let me take you back to Christmas 2008. It’s a year I’ll never forget. My family had a tradition: every year, my dad and I would put up the Christmas lights together. That year was special because, for the first time, the responsibility of hanging the lights had been passed to me. I felt honoured, and with the help of a good mate, I was almost finished when my dad came outside to give us a hand.
We were working on the last stretch of lights when my dad climbed up the ladder. It was on a slight hill, and when he leaned forward to toss the lights over a branch, the ladder shifted. Before I knew it, he was on the ground, groaning in pain.
I rushed over to find him clutching his leg. He was in more pain than I had ever seen him in before. We called an ambulance, and soon after, the doctors gave us devastating news: he had broken his leg in 17 places. Seventeen! At first, they thought they’d have to amputate.
We were stunned. Christmas felt ruined. But then, there was a glimmer of hope. Another doctor stepped in and agreed to take on the case, and miraculously, he was able to save my dad’s leg. On Christmas Eve, my dad was cleared to come home to begin his rehabilitation. We were together as a family, and even though it wasn’t the Christmas we had imagined, we had something to celebrate after all.
Finding God in the Ordinary
That experience taught me something I’ll never forget: Christmas often comes in the middle of life’s messiness. It’s not always picture-perfect. Sometimes, it’s downright hard.
It reminded me of the shepherds in the Christmas story. Luke chapter 2 tells us about an ordinary group of men working a cold, dark night in the fields. Their job was tough, dirty, and probably thankless. Yet, on that very night, God chose them to receive the greatest news ever told.
Out of nowhere, an angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”
Can you imagine? One moment, they were tending sheep, and the next, they were witnesses to the extraordinary. God used these ordinary shepherds to be part of His extraordinary plan.
Good News for You
That same good news the shepherds received is for you and me, too. It’s good news because it tells us that God sees us. He sees our troubles, our pain, and our brokenness. He didn’t stay distant—He entered into our mess, sending His Son to bring us life, joy, and peace.
John 3:16 puts it beautifully: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This news doesn’t just change eternity; it changes how we see our circumstances right now. God is in the business of taking the ordinary and transforming it into something extraordinary.
This Christmas
Maybe this year, you’re feeling like I did back in 2008. Maybe you’ve received hard news, or you’re carrying the weight of loss, illness, or broken relationships. Maybe Christmas feels ordinary—or even painful—this time around.
But I want to encourage you with this: just as God broke into the shepherds’ ordinary night, He can break into your story, too. He can transform your circumstances, bringing hope and joy where you least expect it.
This Christmas, I hope you’ll embrace the good news of Jesus. Let it remind you that you are seen, loved, and not alone. And as you celebrate with lights, carols, and festivities, may you also celebrate the greatest gift of all: the Savior who was born for you.
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