DAY 1 | When God Interrupted My Story | More Than a Holiday | When Christmas Becomes Personal

You know, I continue to be amazed and pleased and reassured about the way the Holy Spirit moves. 

In our last discussion this past Friday, we looked at Mary and how God declared she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit, not human ability. God did not accept impossibility as an excuse because what He promises, He performs.

When I left you then, I did not know where the Lord would lead. I remained open to hearing from the Holy Spirit. I was leaning toward some Christmas music, and that may still happen. 

But here we are, looking at the overall topic of What Christmas Means to Me. I pray we will all be in alignment and hear the Spirit of the Lord—not Angela. And certainly, please feel free to share your perspective on the topic in whatever way the Lord leads you to.

For me: Christmas is more than a date on the calendar. It is a divine interruption. Over time, my excitement has shifted from outward celebration to a deeper pursuit of purpose—understanding my place in God’s greater plan of creation, faithful living, and eternal life.

Scripture tells us that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son” (Galatians 4:4, NKJV). 

Jesus did not come early, and He did not come late. He came right in the middle of human mess, political tension, and spiritual fatigue.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, her life was not prepared for disruption. She was young, engaged, and planning a future that made sense to her. 

Yet Luke 1:26–27 (NLT) tells us God stepped directly into her ordinary life.  “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.”

Mary’s response in Luke 1:34 (NIV) — “How will this be?” — reveals something important: divine interruptions often begin with questions, not clarity.

Christmas did not arrive wrapped in convenience. Luke 2:1–7 shows us Jesus was born under government pressure, census mandates, overcrowding, and displacement. There was no room in the inn — yet there was room in God’s plan. Hallelujah.

This reminds us that God does not wait for systems to be stable before He moves. He enters instability with purpose.

For some of us, Christmas represents gratitude. Psalm 40:2 (ESV) says God lifts us out of the pit and sets our feet on solid ground—for example, looking back over the year and realizing that what once felt overwhelming did not overtake us.

For others, Christmas represents survival— “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed” (2 Corinthians 4:8, NIV)—for example, still showing up, still believing, and still holding on even when answers have not yet come.

And for some, joy feels heavy because life has been unkind. Scripture acknowledges this tension: “A bruised reed He will not break” (Isaiah 42:3, NKJV)—for example, carrying grief, disappointment, or unanswered prayers while trying to engage a season that expects cheer.

Here is the heart of Christmas: God did not wait for humanity to be ready. Romans 5:8 (NLT) tells us, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Christmas proves that God steps into real life — not the polished version, the commercialised version, the Santa Claus and Mrs Claus version, but the honest one.

So what did God interrupt in your life to get your attention? We can discuss that.

Proverbs 19:21 (AMP) reminds us that many plans exist in the human heart, “but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail.” 

When we are in the middle of our testing, it does not feel good. But we are reminded today that divine interruption is not punishment — it is redirection. Again, we are encouraged to change our perspective.

So what am I saying here today? This Christmas season invites honesty, not performance. This is the last week before Christmas Week, the 25th being next Thursday, and then before we know it, the following week ushers in a new year, should the Lord tarry. 

The questions remain: Who am I showing up as this Christmas—the version I present to the world, or the one God already knows? As this year comes to a close, what truth about my heart is God asking me to be honest about? What part of my life needs that honesty before I step into a new year?

And if those questions uncover places of pain rather than clarity, Scripture does not leave us without reassurance. Psalm 34:18 (NKJV) assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Family, Christmas is not about pretending everything is fine; it is about recognising that God is present right here, even when everything isn’t.

Scripture reminds us in Matthew 1:23, NKJV, that God is with us through His Son: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.” 

He promises that, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.”(Isaiah 43:2 NIV). 

And He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). 

And that truth changes everything.