The Solution to Post-Christmas Blues

I hate taking down Christmas decorations. There's nothing more depressing than seeing your happy ornaments and twinkling lights go back into the boxes (or more frustrating than trying to figure out how you fit them in such tiny boxes to begin with). I always have a few sad moments when I realize this season I've been looking forward to for months is now over.

I love Christmas. I love seeing my family, hearing the messages at church, singing hymns, giving and receiving gifts, and enjoying a short break from regular life. That's why Jan. 2 comes as such a rude awakening. Everyone's going back to work and catching up on stuff they put off for the holidays. Plus, what do you have to look forward to? Two more months of winter and the tax season—that's what.

From that standpoint, this time of year stinks. But one thing God has been trying to teach me for several years now is to avoid putting too much stock in the "next big thing." Learning that lesson is hard to do because our culture is fueled by instant gratification and major events. Marketers and advertisers already are trying to get us to spend money for the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day. They're working to redirect our attention so we'll start looking forward to the next big thing.

In a relationship with Jesus Christ, though, the truly important stuff doesn't occur at the moment the next big thing arrives. Sure, we experience Christian events, rallies at churches and moments in our lives that we pinpoint as spiritual hallmarks. But as any experienced Christian knows, a life lived with Jesus is not about those big spiritual peaks; it's about how we walk through the valleys.

Jesus' process for transforming our lives involves changing us every day in small but meaningful ways. He develops passions in us; He develops good habits and routines; He develops love for others. That's why having such things as a regular quiet time and accountability partners are so effective, because they are steady and regular. They will have a much bigger influence on your spiritual life than the "next big thing" that you might look forward to.

Since I don't have another big thing coming up in the near future, I'm looking forward to improving my everyday walk with God at the beginning of this year. I need to take this time to develop routines and a consistent focus on the Lord that will carry me through the rest of the year. With God's help, my everyday life will become full of satisfaction in Him so I won't be as let down when the next big thing comes and goes.