When the Holidays Hurt: The Christmas I Lost Hope—and Found Faith
There’s something about the holidays that no card, carol, or Christmas cookie can fix.
That’s the deep ache of loss, disappointment, or longing that so many of us feel when the world around us sparkles and we’re just struggling to breathe. It’s the empty chair at the table, the relationship that’s fractured, the prayers that seem unanswered, or the dreams that still feel impossibly far away.
CHRISTMAS IS SUPPOSED TO BE JOYFUL… BUT WHAT IF YOUR HEART IS BROKEN?
It’s a hard truth: the holidays shine a spotlight on whatever is missing, making it even harder to hold onto hope. To faith. And yet—maybe, just maybe—this raw, fragile place is exactly where God wants to meet us. 💔✨
🕊️ Why This Matters
For so many families, Christmas is more struggle than celebration. We see perfect photos online, cheerful gatherings on TV, and feel pressure to play along… even as grief or disappointment fill our days.
But what if faith and hope aren’t just for glossy moments, but especially for the crack in the story? For when the diagnosis is fresh, the prayers are aching, or the dream seems dead and buried?
This week’s episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World is a message for anyone whose holiday is heavy. You are not alone—and your heartbreak has a holy purpose. 🙏
🎙️ About Your Host
No guest on the show this week—just me, Catherine, offering the most honest, unvarnished holiday special I’ve ever recorded. I share the story of suffering a miscarriage on Thanksgiving Day in 2015. Here is the photo we took at the dinner table that fateful night…
Thanksgiving 2015
I’m 3rd from the left. Obviously. You can see the grief and loss written all over my face. We named the child we lost that night Hope.
But God had a much greater story to tell… check out God’s redemption in my life just two years later:
Thanksgiving 2017
I sat in the same exact chair on purpose. This is our Evangeline Faith. In that very spot at my father’s table, I lost my Hope… but I found my Faith.
You see, Hope and Faith are sisters… and all too often in life, when hope dies—our faith comes to life.
From supernatural nudges and unexplainable dreams to the real pain of miscarriage and the miraculous birth of my daughter Faith—this is a story I hadn’t planned to share this year, but it’s one that God authored for every parent searching for a reason to believe in a broken world, especially at the holidays.
✨ Key Takeaways from this very personal message: ✨
- The Pain is Real—And So is the Season’s Pressure: The holidays amplify grief and loss, making hope seem distant, especially when every photo and gathering emphasizes what’s missing. 📸
- Hope and Faith Are Like Sisters: These aren’t separate virtues—they’re intertwined, lifting each other through life’s darkest seasons. And in my life, Hope and Faith are real sisters… our daughter in heaven made life possible for our daughter here on earth. 👭
- God Speaks Through Our Pain: Through dreams, prayer, and supernatural comfort, I found God present—even in loss, reminding us that He meets us in heartbreak. 💭
- Sacrifice of Praise in Suffering: Giving thanks when it costs us is a holy act—a “sacrifice of praise” that invites God’s healing presence. 🙌
- God’s Timing is Not Ours: The journey from loss to new life didn’t fit my plans, but God’s faithfulness showed up beyond expectation. ⏳
- Faith is for Today: Our true hope is secure in heaven, but faith is what helps us navigate earth’s waiting, wanting, and suffering. Faith grows strongest in the places hope once filled. 🌱
- You Are Not Alone: From empty chairs to empty arms, your struggle is seen. God is with us—Emmanuel. Right here, right now. 🤗
💬 Quote of the Week
“HOPE may feel far away for you right now, out of touch,
out of sight, held safely in heaven by the God who loves you.
But your FAITH is here, living, breathing,
growing because Christ came, Emmanuel, God with us.”
~ Catherine
📝 ACTION STEPS 📝
- Pause and Acknowledge Your Pain: It’s OK to grieve the empty places this Christmas. Journaling, prayer, and acknowledging your disappointment make room for God to comfort. 🌧️➡️🌈
- Offer a Sacrifice of Praise: Even when it’s costly, thank God for His presence and past faithfulness. Worship in the hard places is faith in action. 🙏
- Anchor Yourself to God’s Promise: Remember—your hope is safe in heaven, but your faith is what you need for the journey right now. ⚓
- Reach Out for Support: Don’t carry heartbreak alone. Share your story with a trusted friend, or connect with community for encouragement. 🫂
- Trust That God Has a Plan to Redeem: Sometimes, God’s answer may already be in your life, waiting to be discovered. 👀
📣 Listen Now
Find “When the Holidays Hurt: The Christmas I Lost Hope—and Found Faith” on Life Audio, and let it restore your soul this season. (Click on the image below.) 🎧
Or find CP/CW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
💡 An Encouraging Word
This Christmas, no pain is wasted and no prayer is unheard. In every empty space and broken dream, God is quietly at work, growing faith where hope was planted. If your heart feels fragile, remember: you’re cradled by His love, anchored by eternal hope, and carried by faith that rises in the dark. 🌟
You’re seen. You’re loved. You’re never alone.
Merry Christmas, friends! 🎁
