Christmas isn’t always the bright and cheery energy that Hallmark and Hobby Lobby display. It can be a dark and gloomy season for some.

Christmas can be painful for many who are grieving the loss of a loved one. It can be overwhelming for some who have gone through a terrible year. And it can feel disappointing for those who want to give their families something more than what they feel they have to offer.

Christmas cheer? For some, it’s more like Christmas despair.

While some hide it better than others, Christmas sorrow and sadness are real emotions many face every year.

If any part of that describes how you’re feeling this holiday season, then first let me say how very sorry I am for the situation that you find yourself in today.

Second, you should know that God hasn’t forgotten about you. He isn’t absent in your grief. He, in fact, is present. (See Psalm 46:1.) He has watched it all play out and is grieving with you, waiting for you to surrender that pain to Him. God can deliver you from your despair.

David writes this about his sorrow and despair:

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

Psalm 30:11 NLT

Only God can take the pain you feel today and fill you with healing. It is only God who can exchange your grief for gladness and turn your mourning into joy.

To walk in God’s peace, you need to step into God’s presence. And that doesn’t mean you won’t ever hurt again. It doesn’t mean that you won’t grieve a loss. What it does mean is that in the midst of your pain and suffering, in the midst of your grief and sorrow, you can still experience the peace of God.