Luke 1:46–50
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant…
He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.”
Christmas is often called a season of joy, but for many, tears are not far from the celebration. The ache of strained relationships, the longing for the way things used to be, or the empty seat of someone we love can make this season feel tender and heavy.
Several years ago, I experienced one of those tear-filled Christmas Eves. It was my first without both of my parents. I had hoped for a quiet, meaningful night with my family, but instead found myself comforting an exhausted seven-year-old who was devastated first by oatmeal-raisin cookies (which she thought would be chocolate chip) and then by the tragic portrayal of a cow in The Nativity. As she cried, I felt my own tears rising – tears not over cookies or cows, but over loss, loneliness, and the sharp realization that Christmas would never look the same again.
Sitting in the dim light of the tree after everyone had gone to bed, I felt the weight of this truth: We don’t need to remove the pain in order to celebrate our precious Savior. Christmas is not a denial of our tears; it is God entering into them.
Mary understood this. When she sang the Magnificat, her life was not tidy or easy. She was a young, unmarried virgin carrying the Savior of the world, and surely filled with fear, questions, and uncertainty.
And yet she sings:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Mary’s joy did not come from a pain-free life. It came from trust – a deep and steady trust in the character of God. She names three truths about him that keep her anchored:
1. God is Mighty
“He who is mighty has done great things for me.”
The God who created the world, who commands storms and calms seas, is the same God at work in us. His power strengthens weary mothers, sustains aching hearts, and carries us through days we never thought we could endure. Joy grows as we look back and say, “The Mighty One has done great things for me,” even if one of those great things is simply carrying us through today.
2. God is Holy
“Holy is His name.”
God is not like us. His holiness reminds us that His ways are higher, wiser, and better than our own. When we begin to grasp, even slightly, the majesty and purity of God, we can say with confidence, “Your will be done,” even through confusion. Holiness teaches us to trust.
3. God is Merciful
“His mercy is for those who fear him.”
Grace is God’s kindness toward the undeserving; mercy is His kindness toward the helpless. Mary knew both. She calls herself God’s “humble servant,” recognizing her need and marveling at God’s compassion. His mercy pours over us like a waterfall, drenching us day by day.
Years after my father died, I read words from his journal that stopped me cold. In the midst of his illness, he prayed: “If my death would strengthen my girls’ walk with God, I would be happy to be taken.”
Without knowing it, God used that loss to draw me closer to himself in ways nothing else could.
Grief is real. Tears are real. But so is the Savior who stepped into our broken world, took on flesh, bore our sins, and rose again so that our joy might never be extinguished.
If joy feels far from you this Christmas, turn to the Word; cling to Jesus. Ask him to reveal himself in the midst of your doubt or grief. Joy grows where trust is planted, and trust grows where we behold our God who is mighty, holy, and merciful.
And then watch for the ways he shows himself, even in a whisper that comes through the pages of your Bible:
I came for you.
I suffered for you.
I rose for you.
And I am with you.
Magnify the Lord with me this Christmas. He has done great things.
