Deck the Halls… and Duck the Headlines

DEVOTIONS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Many years ago, as the first strands of lights were hung and Christmas music filled the house, my mom would gather the kids and ask for our Christmas wish lists.

Surely, she hoped I would circle books, jigsaw puzzles, and cozy socks in the Sears catalog. But no. The toy I longed for? Rock ’Em Sock ’Em Robots. Yep, nothing says “Christmas joy” like two plastic robots punching each other.

Not surprisingly, this game never made it under our tree on Christmas morning. But when I finally got to play it at a friend’s house, it wasn’t nearly as fun as I imagined. The robots were clumsy; there was no fancy footwork or well-crafted game strategy. Players simply smashed the buttons until one of the spring-loaded heads popped up. Reset... start again. Meaningless conflict.

As a child, I walked away thinking, That’s it? Today, I feel the same disappointment, but for a far heavier reason. A quick glance at the headlines plays out the same way: everyone’s swinging, nobody’s listening, and even when someone “wins,” there’s no real peace. The same fight just resets, and a new round begins.

With political division, shootings, and nonstop strife dominating the news, the joy of the season can be difficult to maintain. Amidst what should be a season of hope and light, the pervasive tone of the world often creeps into our hearts and wears us down.

The birth of Jesus reminds us that true joy does not depend on ideal circumstances. Contrary to the tranquil scenes on our Christmas cards, Jesus also came into a world marked by oppression, violence, and uncertainty. But He didn’t arrive wielding power or force. He came as a baby. Vulnerable. Humble. Yet full of promise to bring peace to a wounded and weary world.

That promise still speaks to us today. In a time when the darkness can feel overwhelming, God doesn’t ask us to pretend that everything is fine. Instead, He reminds us that His light has already come into the world — a light that shines steadily, and that the darkness cannot overcome (John 1:5).

This is the hope we can hold at Christmas. Even in a world that we know is far from peaceful, God’s peace has come to us. And even when conflict surrounds us, Christ’s light remains steady and unshaken, present with us and available for all.

This Christmas, we don’t have to keep swinging or bracing for the next blow. God invites us to step out of the ring—out of the endless cycle of conflict—and rest our hearts in the One who came to dwell among us. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Light of the world, our joy begins to return. Not because circumstances have changed, but because His presence has changed us.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6

- Ron Reid