During this season of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressures and expectations that often accompany the holidays. You might find yourself asking, “What’s wrong with me?” or “Why can’t I get it together like everyone else?” These thoughts can weigh heavily, making us feel like we’ll never be good enough. But here’s the good news as we reflect on the nativity: God doesn’t focus on what’s wrong with us. Instead, He lovingly looks at what’s missing and offers us the hope to restore it, much like the hope brought to us by the coming of Jesus.
God’s Focus Is on Restoration, Not Condemnation
Many of us have learned to see ourselves through the lens of our flaws—our past mistakes, shortcomings, or struggles, especially during these reflective times of year. It’s easy to believe that God is disappointed in us when life feels messy. But the truth is that God’s love isn’t based on our performance. He’s not standing over us with a checklist of failures. Instead, He sees the places where we feel incomplete or lacking, and He moves toward us with grace, ready to fill those spaces with His peace and love.
Romans 8:1 reminds us, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, remember that God isn’t here to point fingers. His goal is healing—restoring what was lost, stolen, or broken in our lives, just as He promised with the gift of His Son.
What’s Missing, Not What’s Wrong
When God looks at you, He doesn’t see a broken mess that needs to be fixed. Instead, He sees a beloved child who might have grown up without some of the love, peace, or security that was needed. He doesn’t ask, “Why are you so messed up?” Instead, He asks, “What was missing that I can now provide?” This shift in perspective changes everything. Rather than focusing on what you need to change, God wants to show you what He longs to fill—whether it’s joy where there’s been sadness, hope where there’s been fear, or connection where there’s been loneliness.
Healing Through God’s Love
God’s healing process isn’t about scolding you into being better. It’s about gently drawing you closer to His heart, so you can receive what you were always meant to have. As the shepherds were drawn to the manger by angels, so too are we drawn by God’s love, which meets us right where we are and offers us more than we ever thought possible.
Hope for the Healing Process
Healing takes time, but each small step brings you closer to the wholeness God desires for you. If you’ve been carrying a sense of shame or failure, know that God isn’t waiting for you to “get
it right.” He’s with you right now, patiently helping you discover what’s missing so that He can restore it.
You Are a Work in Progress—and That’s Okay
It’s okay to not have everything together. We’re all in the process of healing, growing, and receiving what God wants to give us. And in that process, God delights in you, not because of what you’ve accomplished, but simply because you are His child.
As we celebrate this Christmas, let’s embrace the comfort and joy that comes from knowing that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” (Philippians 1:6)
Wherever you are in your journey, remember that God is not finished with you. Healing isn’t about fixing everything all at once—it’s about letting God fill your heart, little by little, with what has always been missing. You are seen, you are loved, and you are not alone.
Let’s walk this journey of restoration together, trusting that the love that came down at Christmas will bring us the peace and joy we were made for.
Interested in hearing what God has in store for YOUR heart? Check out our Introduction to Inner Healing coloring booklet here (also available in Spanish Introducción a La Sanidad Interior here!)