“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Isaiah 40:1-5

Christmas is such a joyful season- lights, music, carols filling the air, families gathering,

laughter, and traditions. But if we’re honest, for many of us, it’s also a season that can feel heavy.

Behind the smiles, some people carry worry, loss, exhaustion, or disappointment, but this

passage reminds us that God keeps His promises and comforts His people.

Isaiah 40:1 “Comfort, comfort my people,” While the scripture is addressing the people of Jerusalem, it is a reminder that He is a comfort to all of us. That we will all go through seasons of challenges and times where we will need His comfort, which comes in different forms. Isaiah 40:3 speaks of a voice calling out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Those deserts often look like seasons of hardship, confusion, or pain in our lives. Yet in those very wastelands, God calls us to lift our voices—not to stay silent in struggle, but to speak of His faithfulness even when the road is rough.

Oftentimes, on social media (especially during the Christmas season), we see positive posts from people speaking from a place of victory, giving the illusion of having it all together. This makes it hard to resonate with people in the midst of their struggle. “Yes, it worked out for you, but it’s not working out for me.” They start to question, “Am I not a good enough Christian?” or “Am I not praying hard enough or the right way?” Shouldn’t our faith be shown the loudest while we are IN our valleys? Wouldn’t this resonate even louder for our friends, families (teens), and

neighbors (especially those who are non-believers)? 

Sharing when we are in these seasons shows non-believers, we are not immune to suffering just because we have a relationship with Christ. It shows that our lives are not perfect. As Christians, our testimonies aren’t always in our healing or the victories, but in the way we walk through those valleys and face our day-to-day challenges. 

That is especially important for couples. Marriage, like our faith, has mountaintops, low places, and all destinations in between. There are seasons when things flow easily, and others when you have to fight to stay connected. When we choose not to hide our struggles but instead share them with each other or with our church family, we give God room to bring healing and hope.

Isaiah 40:5 “Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.”

This tells us that when we share our experiences and declare His goodness through the dry places, we help clear a path for His glory to be revealed.  Our testimonies also become signposts of hope, showing both believers and nonbelievers that God is present, powerful, and still at work—turning wastelands into places of renewal and purpose and showing our faith through our suffering. 

That means the glory of God isn’t just revealed in the perfect moments- it’s revealed in shared stories, in honesty, and in community. When we open up about our struggles, we give others space to breathe, to be real, and to see that God is still faithful in the middle of it all.

This is, in essence, the story of Christmas. Out of the darkness came the brightest light. Out of silence in Bethlehem came a Savior’s cry. God is still doing that – bringing beauty out of brokenness, joy out of sorrow, and connection out of honesty. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give each other this Christmas isn’t PRESENTS; it’s our PRESENCE. Comfort someone who is hurting, or if you find yourself in a valley, don’t hide it. Let your story of struggle become a story of shared hope. When we do that together, as couples, families, and a church, the glory of the Lord truly is revealed among us. It is a reminder that even in the valley, God is making a way for His Glory to be seen.

Closing thought: This Christmas, may we be people who bring comfort not by pretending everything is fine, but by reminding each other that even when it’s not, God is still with us. Emmanuel.

Chris & Bonnie Shaw