All You Want for ChristmasSample

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

“God rest ye merry gentlemen. Let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day to save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray. Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.”

Think

This is one of the oldest known hymns, sung in the church as far back as the 1300s. Charles Dickens later featured a part of the hymn in his book A Christmas Carol. While “God rest ye merry” is not a common phrase in this day and age, what it means is: “God give you joy and gladness.” It is a blessing that is full of hope, full of promise, and full of truth. We are given the why in the following lines and stanzas. And that why is all about Jesus.

We don’t need to be dismayed, downtrodden, hopeless, and crushed, because Christ has come. He has come! He has paid for all of our sins, brings light to the darkness, hope for the hopeless, and joy out of despair. Even though it was we who went astray and succumbed to Satan’s power, He came to rescue us anyway. Tidings of comfort and joy, indeed.

Not only did Christ save us, but He also continues to walk with us. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8). “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1). He is the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:4). And as the Psalmist reminds us, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

Apply

Does this not have the power to change every part of our lives? We aren’t promised that we won’t experience pain, but we are promised that we will be comforted. We aren’t promised that we won’t go through trouble, but we are promised that we will never be alone. We aren’t promised that this life will not be hard, but we are promised that this is not the end…that one day there will be NO MORE trouble and pain and sorrow. And that is why we can let nothing dismay us. That is why we can rest in gladness. That is why we can hold fast: comfort and joy.

Pray

Father God, from you comes forth life and goodness, comfort and joy. May I hold fast to your promises. May I believe that you are who you say you are–that you are the One who will never leave me, who will never forsake me, and who will turn all sorrow into joy. Thank you for that hope. It is in Jesus’ precious and holy name, amen!

Author - Ellie Brooke is the Executive Assistant at The Factory Ministries and a freelance music composer and writer. You can find some of her work at: elliebrooke.com.