You know the gift. The one you get, but don’t want. And you know the moment. The one where you’re trying to look grateful, but your face is exposing you’re posing. It’s out of place when trying to prepare Him room. Sometimes, we get what isn’t on our list, what we never wanted, and what we wouldn’t choose. We try to love the gifts from the people we love, but sometimes it’s not easy.
God gave me some things I didn’t want this year. Can you relate? If I take Jesus, I have to take His gifts.
In December there’s talking and posting about preparing room for Jesus. After all, it’s his birthday. He should have “room.” We love it that James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights.” Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us.” It makes sense to carve out time to worship Him. It’s only right to spend time reflecting, to ponder like Mary pondered, to read the story of Christ’s coming, and to give gifts to show His love. It’s only right to prepare HIM room.
But He can leave some of His gifts behind. If you’re like me, you didn’t want everything you got last year.
Unwanted Gifts
Have you asked, “What was God thinking when he gave us hard things?”
I didn’t ask for an illness. I didn’t put “disappointment” on my wish list. I’m sure I didn’t ask for my child to feel pain. I know I didn’t ask for isolation. Nobody wants loss or betrayal.
Maybe God mixed up the things He gave us with someone else’s twisted list.
Making room for Jesus means making room for the gifts He gives. Yes, we receive Him as the Baby in the manger. However, He’s also the King of our Hearts, our Prince of Peace, and the Redeemer of our souls. Opening my heart to prepare Him room means ushering in the gifts He gives. It includes adjusting my expectations to trust Him to give what He knows is good, even if I didn’t ask for it.
The Gift of God’s Presence
The same Father of Lights who gives every good and perfect gift knows what I really need. He knows what I refuse to ask for, what I can’t bring myself to want, and what I’d return if His policy allowed. Like I set aside busyness to focus on Jesus and “prepare Him room” during Advent, I have to set aside dissatisfaction and focus on cooperative reception of what God gives me. We can’t just make room for Jesus and reject the gifts He gives us.
When we get gifts we don’t ask for, want, or choose, Immanuel is still with us. In the empty room, He’s with us. If we’re in the hospital, He’s with us. If we’re in the counselor’s office, He’s with us. In the darkness, He’s with us.
He is “God with us.” The Psalmist confidently wrote, “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
Good Gifts from our Father
What did God give you this year that surprised you? You know the “gift.” That one you were given, but didn’t want to receive. And you know the moment. The one where you tried to look grateful, while your face exposed the posing.
“So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11)
Sometimes, we get what isn’t on our list, what we never wanted, and what we wouldn’t choose. We can receive God’s gifts, both the requests and the surprises, because He knows us intimately. He gives all the gifts that lead to life. He won’t just give us what we put on our wish list.
Go ahead, prepare Him room, but make room for all of His gifts too. Because He’s generous, He’ll give us all we need for the life and godliness He has for us. (2 Peter 1:3)
What to do With Unwanted Gifts
- Appreciate God’s presence, no matter whatever you receive. (Psalm 16:11)
- Acknowledge God as the Giver, even when what we get is hard. (James 1:17)
- Ask God to give you good gifts, then let Him decide what’s good. (Matthew 7:11)
So how’s your attitude? How are you feeling about what the Prince of Peace gave you this year? Are you posing gratefully in front of a Christmas tree, but complaining deep within?
If you’re still trying to exchange your gifts, I find these 4 steps help.
4 Steps to Prepare Him Room … and His gifts
- Be honest with God. He knows you didn’t ask for, want, or choose it. Tell Him anyways.
- Ask for help. He knows you need support to keep hard things. Ask for strength.
- Share with a friend. She got something she didn’t ask for too. Pray together for strength.
- Resist the urge to re-gift it. Learn from hard gifts and ask God to show you why He gave it to you.
