December 2025
Issue 237

Feeling disconnected during the holidays?

When I was younger, this season made me grouchy. I've long since gotten over that stage. Now as a geezer, I find it tolerably amusing. I do enjoy the lights.
We singles probably fall into two categories: those who love Christmas and those who feel relieved when it's over. And you know what? If you don't love it, that's all right. Jesus understands.

The sense of disconnection singles feel the rest of the year becomes even more acute during the holidays. It's as if there's a party going on and you weren't invited. Or even worse, you go to the party but can't enjoy yourself.

It's yet another mystery of the single life, something called feeling disconnected.

Your gi'ft

There's a g'ift we don't consider,

more profound than we can know.

It's a heavenly connection

between there and here below.

It's a gif't that comes with healing

for the world's broken hearts.

 It's a way to start life over

 for the ones who need fresh starts.

It's a cleansing for us sinners

that frees us from our guilt.

 It's a home to live forever

 that is firm and strongly built.

It's a love for all eternity

a payment highly priced.

 It's the greatest gif't at Christmas,

It's your Savior, Jesus Christ.

~ Jack Zavada, inspiration-for-singles.com, 2012 ~

Tips for coping with this season

That sadness is compounded with guilt. We want to join in the fun but just don't feel like it. Is there something wrong with people who feel down during the holidays?

We've all seen enough articles in the popular media to know we're not alone. Expectations for this season are sky-high and reality is ground level. If you're a Christmas fanatic, give thanks. If you're not, these tips may help:

How to appreciate Christmas;

Getting through this difficult season;

Yep, you CAN have a better Christmas;

5 ways to beat the holiday blues.

Don't forget yourself this Christmas!

Hope for Hurting Singles. is a valuable present you can give yourself this year that will encourage you for the rest of your life. Gain new insight on problems like:

• Loneliness
  
• Depression
  
• Shyness
  
• Anger
  
• Bitterness
  
• Fear
  
• Low self-esteem

Why is Hope for Hurting Singles. different? First, it was written by a single person, not a married minister who forgot what the unhitched life is like. Second, every principle is based on years of trial-and-error so you know they work. Third, it also details all the ineffective approaches so you can avoid those time-consuming dead-ends. Fourth, these strategies conform to the Bible, the greatest book of life-advice ever written.

Maybe you've seen these ads for months or even years. In the time you've skipped over them, has your life gotten better?

It's time to treat yourself to a happier future. Is a boffo 2026 worth $10.99 of your savings for this paperback, or $3.99 for the Kindle version?

Give yourself the present of Hope for Hurting Singles and get the boost you've been looking for!

December QOTM: Use both hands

As we close 2025, let's keep Maya Angelou's words in mind for the coming year. We singles can easily become self-centered, concerned only with our own problems. Others are suffering too, and we can help them.

Charitable giving is how we become good stewards of what God gives us, and make no mistake, our money does come from God. I know prices are really high now, but try to save some money, if only coins in a bank, to donate to a good cause.

Use your other "hand" to help yourself. Read the Bible. Pray. Go to church. Seek God and you will find him. That's when real help comes through. Building an intimate relationship with Jesus is the healthiest thing you can do for yourself, both physically and spiritually. Remember that God wants that more than you do.

The biggest surprise in heaven…

No matter how fantastic we think it's going to be, heaven will exceed our expectations so much it will overwhelm us not just for the first few weeks, but for the rest of eternity.

Heaven is the only place that will get better every day. How is that possible? Because God is there and we will continually learn more and more about him.

I've said it before, but I'll repeat it: Life here on Earth frequently stinks.

That's no surprise to you, a single person. And for some of you, life stinks more often than it's great. But heaven? Now that's going to make up for all the stinkiness a million times over.

As they say on TV commercials, "But wait! There's more!" The instant you get that big welcoming hug from Jesus, you're going to get one of the biggest surprises of your life.

Want a preview? Read The biggest surprise in heaven.

What do you really want for Christmas?

• More patient,
  
• More generous,
  
• More forgiving,
  
• More compassionate,
  
• More wise,
  
• More courageous?

Courage is something I need more of. In fact, I ask God for it so often I decided to write this article about it.

What character quality would you like God to give you? I'm convinced those are prayers he will honor. We don't need more stuff. We need to be more like Jesus, so when you seek that, you can be sure you're praying right.

Yes, you may have to make some changes, but if you're serious, God will make them less painful for you. The Holy Spirit will gently mold you into the beautiful person God wants you to be.

The Living Bible translation says: "And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it." (James 4:2)

So ask away this Christmas!

December Prayer list:

Dawn: Emotional healing for her sister.

Lisa: Physical healing for her brother.

Jenny: Emotional healing.

Cherlyn: Physical and emotional healing.

Closing thoughts…

The closer we get to Jesus, the less our circumstances affect us. That was one of the great lessons from the apostle Paul. God wants us to be dependent on him.

My prayer for you is that you experience the caretaking love God has for you, not just now, but for the rest of your life.

Until 2026 then,

PS: Not a Christian yet? Find out how to become a Christian.