From Humbug to Hallelujah: A 5-Day Christmas TransformationSýnishorn

From Humbug to Hallelujah: A Challenge To Choose Joy

It’s “the most wonderful time of the year”…or is it? Maybe Christmas felt that way when you were a kid, but for many, it’s shifted over time to something far more stressful than magical. Why is that? Where did the wonder of Christmas go?

Like Scrooge, many of us experience Christmas as anything but joyful. In the rush and busyness of the season, we lose what makes it feel special: wonder, innocence, and peace. Yet Scrooge's encounter with the Ghost of Christmas Past reminds us that he wasn’t always the hardened miser he became. There was a time when he was simply Ebenezer, a young boy with a soft heart and an openness to life, known fondly as “Eben” by his sister, Fan.

But like so many of us, Eben lost that innocence. His father’s poor decisions and bitterness soured the family’s life, leading him to associate Christmas with pain and disillusionment rather than joy. While we might not face the exact crossroads Scrooge did—rejecting joy to avoid upsetting a parent—we all reach points in life where we must choose between embracing wonder and love, or closing ourselves off with cynicism and bitterness.

That choice isn’t always simple. Joy doesn’t just happen to us as we get older; it becomes something we have to consciously choose, regardless of our circumstances. James, the brother of Jesus, speaks to this in his letter to the early church: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow” (James 1:2-3 NLT). Even when life feels far from ideal, we’re invited to find joy—not because everything is perfect, but because joy can become a part of our character and faith.

If you’ve experienced hardship that has forced you to confront the harshness of life, you’re not alone. Each of us has the choice Scrooge faced: to hold on to the wonder God designed us to enjoy, or to allow disillusionment to dim our joy. Which path will you choose?

Reflection Question: What circumstances are you facing that aren’t “ideal”? How might you let go of cynicism and see these challenges as a path to grow in character and faith? Where could you uncover joy in unexpected places?