And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28

The story started out as sad, but somewhat typical for this time of the year.  My wife mentioned that a mutual friend of ours was having a “tough time” adjusting to the Christmas season.  It moved to intriguing when she told me that he expressed a desire to speak about it with me.  At that point, I wondered what I could possibly say that would help.

My tendency when faced with something like this is to shift into a “seriousness of purpose” mode.  In this case, before I picked up the phone, I prayed that God would guide me to be a wise and wholesome counselor.  I knew that any sort of confusion//anxiety was possible. Once I was in the right mindset, I went ahead with the call. He answered and after we exchanged pleasantries, our conversation soon moved to how he was having a tough go of adjusting to the Christmas season. The reason for his being in a funk was unclear. After a few minutes of trying to pinpoint the underlying problem, the help I had asked God to provide began to unfold.

The line of our communication suddenly lit up when I was led to reflect on John 3:16. This, after all, was the real meaning of Christmas.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

That one scripture rang loudly and effectively with both of us.  If God so loved, that He gave, then wouldn’t it make sense to follow His example? At this special time of the year, we should trade being overwhelmed by confusion and anxiousness with a joyful resolve to love and give.

In short order, our friend was delivered from his nasty seasonal prison. His problem was solved.  It was a matter of becoming a man of blessed action—one who sets his heart to loving and serving others.  What a story, what a call, and what a Christmas gift!

Mark 12: 30-31