Christmas for the Uninvited - It's Okay to Not be Merry - Week 1

In this message, we begin our Christmas series Christmas for the Uninvited with a gentle reminder many of us need this time of year:

It’s okay to not be merry.

Through Psalm 42:5–11, we look at how God meets us when joy feels far away — and why biblical lament is actually an expression of faith, not failure.

This heartfelt message is for anyone who feels lonely, forgotten, overwhelmed, or unseen during the holidays.

In this teaching, we explore:

• Why the pressure to “be joyful” can make holiday loneliness even worse

• The biblical practice of lament (and why God welcomes honest pain)

• How Jesus understands our sorrow — “a man acquainted with grief”

• How hope is reborn even in our darkest emotional winters

• The invitation to come honestly before God this Christmas

If you’re looking for a Christ-centered message that meets you where you are — not where the season expects you to be — you’re in the right place.