The Soul Felt Its Worth

I have a thing for words, phrases, lyrics. They seem to jump out at me when I’m reading or listening to music and then play on repeat for days or weeks. I especially love it when just a handful of words carries so much depth and meaning that I’m almost required to sit on it for a while. The past few Christmas’s I’ve enjoyed the awe and profoundness found in many of the Christmas carol lyrics I’m so familiar with.

A lyric I’ve been recently in awe of is from O Holy Night.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till he appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

The soul felt its worth.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what Christmas means to people. For some, it’s time off of work, a chance to take a trip or see family. For many people it involves some form of gifts, decorations, and special food. Some people really don’t like Christmas. Whether it’s the busyness, expectations/obligations, family dynamics, or materialism—for them, there isn’t much joy found in this time of year. I think for many Christians, there is a desire to do the season well. To “remember the reason for the season” while getting through the get-togethers and Christmas plays and baking and kids at home. I too, can relate to the good intentions of simplifying, slowing down, and the desire to teach my kids that Christmas is about Jesus and not just presents.

I think the heart behind such intentions is to give Jesus the honor and reverence we believe He deserves. We know His birth is incredibly significant and we want to give space for this reality to sink deeper into us. When I think to past Christmas’s, I’d often try to focus on how Jesus is the Saviour of the world. How without Him I’d be lost and that the Father sent Him to make a way for us. This is absolutely true and a profound reality to meditate on. For me though, I often thought of it as something God had to do. Like He didn’t really want to send Jesus or save us, but He did and we should be grateful. Like the joy we should feel at Christmas should be because we don’t need to go to hell. Whew! Christmas is like one big sigh of relief—we have a way out now.

All of this largely came out of the picture I had of God. That being that He didn’t really like me and was usually annoyed or disappointed with me. Thankfully for many years now, this picture of God has been being replaced with the true picture of who God is. That God is a loving Father who actually really loves us. Like more than anything! He likes us, He enjoys us, He can’t stand to be apart from us! What an amazing reality! This truth has brought me so much freedom and joy over the years.

Which is probably why I love this lyric—He appeared and the soul felt its worth. I think we should have incredible joy at Christmas, not just because He freed us from hell, but because Jesus’ appearing shows us the magnitude of our worth to Him.

I remember the first time that Loren told me he loved me. I couldn’t stop smiling for days. It’s like nothing else mattered—he loved me! It made me want to sing! The birth of Jesus was/is the most ultimate ‘I love you.’ God, the mighty, powerful, creator of the universe was like, “I love you so much, I want to be with you so badly, that I’m going to come down to you and become one of you.”

I hope your soul is grasping this. I hope your soul is singing with joy that God finds YOU worthy. Despite all that lie ahead—the misunderstanding, ridicule, suffering and heartache He would endure—it was out of love, because of love, that Jesus came. For you.

It’s always more meaningful when someone shows up in person. Sure, your best friend could send you a really nice birthday card. But when they surprise you at your doorstep, you really know they love you. To think of what it was like for those that actually witnessed Jesus coming, that’s probably another thing in itself. I’ll finish by saying—I pray that God shows up for you this Christmas. Whether it’s during your morning coffee, in the shower, a Christmas service or watching your kids tear open presents, I pray that Jesus would appear to you in a genuine way. And that in His appearing, your soul would know its worth.