Snow, bright lights, good food, warm fires, family, friends—’tis the season! As the cool weather sets in, there is a refreshing expectancy in the air. The smell of pumpkin spice fills the atmosphere, and cinnamon tickles the senses of those enamored with the holiday spirit. The malls are hustling with shoppers, and the economy is once again boosted by those looking for “that perfect gift.”

But through all the festivities and gatherings, smiles and laughter, there are lonely hearts abiding in silence. It seems wherever you go, there is always a degree of pressure when it comes to the relationship scene, and it seems the pressures heighten during the holiday season. Loneliness appears as an unwanted holiday gift. Whether it be a lack of family relationships, friend relationships, or even companion relationships, none are easy to cope with when you feel a gap in your heart you assume cannot be filled until a tangible human being enters your life or an outstanding earth-shattering event occurs for you.

If it is a companion relationship you pray for, it is difficult to be surrounded by those who have reached that point in their life. If it is a family or friend relationship you seek for, it’s difficult to be bombarded by advertisements and bulletins promoting family and friend togetherness when it appears out of reach.

While earthly relationships are important and wonderful to have, there is a heavenly relationship that awaits you. How many times have you heard this? It sounds cliché each time, but the truth in the statement is anything but cliché!

All too often we pour our trust and energy into desiring earthly relationships that seem to come up short and are unable to provide every need we have according to our own expectations. Unfortunately this isn’t just a seasonal thing—this matter can be present throughout every day of the year and haunts the hearts of young people from all walks of life. When we are consumed with desires for earthly relationships, we seem to overlook the fulfilling solitude that a relationship with our Creator can place in our lives.

In Philippians 4:19, the Word of God states to us something very mind blowing to me. It seems almost impossible in our day, but since we are children of God who know He is faithful to His Word and promises, the scripture opens an unsurpassed trust factor if we really believe and take to heart what it says.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

I don’t know if you are as amazed as I am by these words, but let’s ponder this for a moment. This refers to more than just the material things you want for Christmas. This refers to life situations and relationship yearnings we all deal with on a day to day basis. That’s pretty big stuff! Material things will fade, some relationships might even fade over time, but God will supply His true gifts—relationships, financial blessings, you name it—according to His riches in glory! Have you read the description of Heaven lately? We’re talking mansions and a street of gold. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. With the price of land and cattle these days, that’s nothing to sneeze at! His riches and glory are above our own imaginations.

Now that we have read the verse and know He can supply whatever we need, let’s read something on a more personal note. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). First of all, He is our friend. Second, He is closer to us than even a brother, which would fall under the blood relationship/family need. My goodness!

He is an awesome God and obviously desires to have a closer-than-close relationship with YOU! Let’s keep reading. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

This just keeps getting better and better! Not only will He supply all our needs, but He is also a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and the gifts He bestows on His very own children are good and perfect. It may not be in our timing, but His gifts are good and His will is absolutely perfect!

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16). He is a friend to the friendless; a Father to the fatherless! Don’t be downtrodden this holiday season. There is a God who loves you more than life itself, and He calls you His own. He has your world in His hands. Scripture states in Hebrews that he will never leave you or forsake you. In I Peter, we read, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (I Peter 5:7).

You have a Heavenly Father who has your back! “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

I am 26 years old and from Fort Worth, Texas. I currently work at the Alvarado Intermediate School and have the honor of claiming over 750 kids as my own. God has been so good to me, and His blessings have been abundant. I enjoy going on missions trips in the summer and am always excited about His next step for my life.