Devotionals by Dave and Ann Wilson
Post-Christmas Wreckage
By Lisa Lakey
Yesterday morning, my house was a wreck—paper, ribbons, boxes, even a stray candy cane found stuck to the floor under the coffee table. It was a stark contrast to the day before when shiny presents skirted around a still-lit tree, our kids anxiously anticipating unwrapping gifts.
But yesterday? Post-Christmas wreckage. We can feel that way inside, too.
Several years ago, my husband and I were barely holding on during a tough holiday season. It seemed we had been hit on every front: a job loss, double sickness, devastating news from a loved one, and a marriage struggling to keep its head above the flood.
My heart mirrored the scraps of holiday festivities—shredded, hollow, and somewhat sticky.
If you and your spouse are dangling by a leftover Christmas ribbon today, you aren’t alone. The holidays can be hard on a marriage. And instead of a hope-filled new year, you might be thinking of calling it quits.
I don’t know the specifics of your season, but I was reminded as I sat in my own wreckage that Christmas wasn’t about shiny ribbons, presents, and baubles on a tree. It was literally about God entering our broken (and somewhat sticky) mess—a mess we couldn’t clean up on our own.
As I sat in the tatters of another Christmas, I held on to the promise that He was with me. And He reminded me of all the good that the hard was trying to overshadow; specifically, my own little boy who snuggled warm in my arms was the most poignant reminder. In that moment, it was enough to hold on another day.
So as you approach what might feel like a hopeless new year, hold on to that reminder. You don’t have to have this all figured out today. And things can get better. You just need to invite Him into the wreckage.
When you feel like giving up on your marriage, here are four things to remember.
The Good Stuff: For nothing will be impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)
Action Points: If you feel like you’re sitting in the wreckage today, invite Christ into your mess. He is Immanuel, God with us. Open your Bible (Psalm 71 is a good choice for when “your strength is spent”) and just be in His presence while you read.
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About Dave and Ann Wilson
Dave and Ann have been married for more than 40 years and have spent the last 35 teaching and mentoring couples and parents across the country. They have been featured speakers at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember® since 1993, and have also hosted their own marriage conferences across the country.
Dave and Ann helped plant Kensington Community Church in Detroit, Michigan where they served together in ministry for more than three decades, wrapping up their time at Kensington in 2020.
The Wilsons are the creative force behind DVD teaching series Rock Your Marriage and The Survival Guide To Parenting, as well as authors of the recently released books Vertical Marriage (Zondervan, 2019) and No Perfect Parents (Zondervan, 2021).
Dave is a graduate of the International School of Theology, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. A Ball State University Hall of Fame Quarterback, Dave served the Detroit Lions as Chaplain for thirty-three years. Ann attended the University of Kentucky. She has been active with Dave in ministry as a speaker, writer, small group leader, and mentor to countless women.
The Wilsons live in the Detroit area. They have three grown sons, CJ, Austin, and Cody, three daughters-in-law, and a growing number of grandchildren.
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