Hey, friend! Welcome to FACETS. We hope you’ll be blessed by our shares this month. We’re thinking about how a weary world can rejoice…

As I (Jennifer) sit to write this post, it’s November—very early for me to be writing a post, honestly. I like to wait on my FACETS work because I hope to be in step with what’s happening in the world while keeping in step with the Spirit. But, back to the chompin’-at-the-bit early thing: that has been the gist of the end of this year for me and many friends. Are we all trying to escort 2020 out the door as fast as we can? It’s been a rough year, hasn’t it? Maybe you’re weary…maybe the world is.

The weary world rejoices…

This month’s topic came directly from lyrics you might know. This year, I feel the songwriter’s attuned pen in my life. 2020 has felt—heavy. I never expected to watch the entire year float away. Everyone I know has commented on being socially distant and fractured, financially pressed and depressed, and internally restless and stressed. It’s hard to ignore that disease, disorder, and death (of people’s lives and dreams) are heavy on me, you, the world.

Rejoicing?

You gotta be kiddin’ me! I sat down to write, and my heart wanted to say those words with a bit of snark. I had no idea what to say to the mom trying to work a full-time job and homeschool her children in absence of the support she needs. I wasn’t sure I could genuinely encourage the woman who’s been out of work in 2020 for more months than she’s worked. If the gifts are the highlight of the season in a person’s heart, this might be some polar train heading for derailment. How do we even get into the mood to rejoice? In my area, so many things are shut down. And lots of people’s wallets shut down this year, too.

Painfully real

Can I be real? I struggle in the holiday season some years, and this year is not only no exception but also exceptionally challenging. My introverted self has over-charged. If I’ve learned anything, I know I desperately n-ee-ee-ee-eed people! As an over-thinker, I rely on others to connect deeply and interrupt my little echo chamber with fresh truth, love, grace, and humor. That’s much better than self-talk in my outside voice. My Labradors and rabbits think I’m talking to them, but—ummm, no. Neighbors may be concerned? And I’ve just got to laugh at someone else’s quick wit—on the outside!

I’m weary. Loneliness appeared as a tiny crack in March, but it’s widened to canyon proportions. Not having regular work has been sad for me and my friends. The disconnection from people is hard. Conversations are infrequent, and I feel an awkward “drive-thru connection” mentality developing.

“Hi, how are you?”
“I’m okay—except for the million things going wrong this month…
“I’m sorry it’s so hard.” (My stuff is nothing.)
“I’ve got to go. Thanks for listening!”
“Sure. I’ll pray for you—” (Awww, I feel with her!)

Some of us carry others’ loads in a way that deeply affects us. More than we might say. Without regular connection and time to process pain, a fast conversation can be too heavy. We can’t (and shouldn’t try) to fix others’ troubles. Our pain and others’ pain—it’s painfully real. What do we do?

Be real

Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say “My tooth is aching” than to say “My heart is broken.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Lewis nails it. I learned something new about extremes this year. I might keep silent.

I was mute and silent;
I held my peace to no avail,
and my distress grew worse. Psalm 39:2

Or I might admit there’s trouble, sharing all the details.

“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Job 19:23

And some days’ trouble could fill a book!

The second looks like processing, but I still miss it: the faith-filled, introspective look; the safety and love in honest relationship to God, myself, and safe others; and the peace that comes from the nearness of God.

Can I admit my heart is broken? Can I genuinely share the road I’m walking is terribly lonely, and I can’t bear it? Concealing pain is a wrong move for me. I hamster-wheel the events, problems, and my solutions (Read: problem-solving echo chamber). I know God’s and others’ wisdom should be welcome!

Share the weary

This is the importance of God and safe people in everyday life. Humans simply must connect deeply; we were made for that. Deep, vulnerable sharing isn’t for every relationship, and it’s not for the shallow, hurried, too-short conversation in passing. It is for a select few, safe relationships. I believe my Heavenly Father loves me (and you!), and He wants faith-filled people to lovingly choose to walk through the best, worst, and wonky stuff in life.

Walking through the weary

How do we do it? Let’s try some of this:

* Realize my mind and heart need calibration with absolute truth.
* Be honest with God, myself, and a few safe people.
* Trust God with all my raw emotions and troubles.
* Trust an equipped, faith-filled, safe person with the raw emotions.
* Resist “drive-thru” connection.
* Participate in relationships as both a giver and receiver.
* Be available for others as a faith-filled giver.

I love that pain and weariness shared is a lighter load, when it’s done right.

A weary world can rejoice!

The Father sent Jesus in order to resolve our biggest pain and trouble—the problem of sin and death.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

The gift of the Savior—you and I can rejoice over His advent! You are, and I am, that valuable!

And then He created a community of people who would walk through this temporary, wearying experience together, loving Him and loving others well.

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains He shall break
For the slave is our brother
And in His Name
All oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy Name

Why can I choose to rejoice? King David reminds me—

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul, Psalm 31:7

He knows our hearts and minds. He knows the amazing and the awful in our lives. We can trust Him with disease, disorder, and distress. Thank you, God!

The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees,
Oh, hear the angel voices
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born
O night divine,
O night, O night divine

Closing out 2020 and going forward

At the close of this very hard year would you care to join me as I soak in this? Choose to make it your own, if you like.

I am not alone because Jesus, Immanuel, is “God with us” and chose to come for me. I have a Savior in Jesus and a Weariness Warrior in His Holy Spirit. There is the “thrill of hope” in just that!

I will be gut-level honest with God, myself, and a few safe people. I have to choose to lean in, but it will be worth it! Loads will be lightened.

I commit to faithfulness in my relationship with God, first; complete honesty and gentleness with myself; and full and genuine participation in relationships as a giver and a receiver.

It’s a manifesto, I suppose. This is how I will address the weariness in my world and how I’ll support others in theirs!

How are you handling your weary world? How can I help? Who will you help? Pop a comment below or at our Facebook page. Don’t forget—sharing is caring. Who else might be encouraged by FACETS of faith?