What The Devil Hides At Christmas

There’s an unintentional tradition enjoyed by almost every member of my family at Christmas. It goes like this……

We gather with my side of the family to exchange gifts. Each person gets their own pile of presents. We read the labels out loud for the humor – our family always tries to use current events of funny things of the past year instead of just the regular “To:” and “From.”

Then, the gifts are all unwrapped…… or so we think…..

Christmas Sorrow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow faced Christmas in 1863 in despair. 

His wife had recently died in a fire and his son had been severely wounded in the Civil War. Christmas approached and a heaviness weighed him down.

As he wrestled with the reality of Christmas in such a time of loss, he wrote these words:

“I heard the bells Christmas Day,

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

He continues and incorporates the imagery of the War as the poem turns darker…

“Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

The Devil Likes To Hide Things

So we THINK we’ve unwrapped all the gifts. But then it happens.

My father asks my mother, “Rebecca, what about __________(insert random gift here)?” Every. Single. Year. Since my childhood.

Apparently, my dad remembers another gift (or two, or three) that they had purchased for one of the kids or grandkids but… it has not been opened or seen.

This sends my mom searching high and low in all the places. And we wait… and giggle because of the familiar and sweet scene playing out before us.

From her closet, I hear my mom declare, “The Devil likes to HIDE things at Christmas!” Our giggle becomes laughter and my dad throws his hands up.

Somehow, someway, those one or two or three gifts they had purchased have not been found and my mother (mockingly) blames it on the devil.

A Verse Of Despair

Wadsworth Longfellow continues and the bleakness he feels hits harder with each line.

“And in despair I bowed my head;

‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;

‘For hate is strong, 

And mocks the song,

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Wadsworth Longfellow knows it as well. The Devil does like to hide things at Christmas.

Specifically, he likes to hide hope and truth. He wants to keep those most essential and beautiful promises of Christmas “unwrapped” and lost. The Devil likes to hide things at Christmas.

Maybe you know it too, just like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Maybe Christmas this year is going to be hard. Memories and sorrow hang heavy. The song of peace on earth and good-will to men is “mocked.”

Maybe it feels you are searching for a gift that is nowhere to be found.

Hope Rings Out

I don’t know if Henry wrote the poem as he walked through his town during Christmas time but his poem grounds us in that scene so well. Now, as he quietly makes his way home alone ….as his head is bowed in “despair”….another sound once more rings out.

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

The Devil likes to hide things, yes. But God loves to make it clear.

There is hope because He has not left us alone and lost in our sins. His Son has come down to live a life of perfect obedience to the Father. A Savior has been given.

There is hope because He has not left us with our impossible debt of sin. His Son has laid down His own body and blood in our place at the Cross. A Savior has been given.

There is hope because He has not left us to face the grave as an unconquerable foe. His Son has defeated Satan, sin, and death as He rose victoriously. A Savior has been given.

Jesus Christ is the One who loves us and gave Himself for us. He is near. Even now. Even in the times of sorrow and despair. He is there. Hear those bells ring one more time. Remember that Christ is alive. 

This is the truth and Scripture testifies to it. The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail.

I pray you experience the JOY of knowing Jesus this Christmas. I pray you know His peace and His comfort. 

May that be the best gift you FIND this year.

For Your Playlist

Joel Ansett has a shorter version of the poem in song form that, in my opinion, captures it’s tone rather well. As you assemble or curate your Christmas playlist, I would commend this to you.

Want to check out past Christmas music devotionals?

Check out this

Or this

Or this…..

Thanks for reading.  Your comments and insights are always welcomed.  If you enjoyed this, please share it.  Want more content?  Check the archives, my youtube channel, or listen to me on the Cross-Cutting Culture Podcast.