December is one of the loudest months of the year. Streets glow with lights, calendars overflow with events, and celebration seems to be the unspoken expectation everywhere we turn. Music fills the air, social gatherings multiply, and the pace of life quickens. Traffic in urban areas increases exponentially mentioned and becomes unbearable. Again, business activities increase as many households rush to purchase items for the festivities. Yet, in the midst of all this brightness and activity, it is possible to lose sight of the very reason December holds meaning for the Christian—the birth of Jesus Christ.
The noise of December is not inherently evil. Celebration itself is not the problem. The danger lies in distraction. When the noise becomes louder than the message, when the lights shine brighter than the Light, the heart of the season can quietly drift out of focus.
THE NOISE THAT COMPETES FOR OUR ATTENTION
December’s noise comes in many forms. It can be the pressure to attend every event, the financial strain of gift-giving, the exhaustion of travel, or the constant pull of social media and comparison. In recent years, festive cultures and end-of-year celebrations have intensified this atmosphere, turning December into a month of non-stop stimulation.
Scripture warns us not only about overt sin, but also about subtle spiritual dullness. Jesus Himself said:
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.” — Luke 21:34 (NIV)
Notice that Jesus includes anxieties of life alongside more obvious sins. A heart weighed down is not always a rebellious heart; sometimes it is simply overfilled.
WHEN BUSYNESS REPLACES AWARENESS
One of the most striking ironies of the Christmas story is found in Bethlehem. When Mary and Joseph arrived, the inn was full. There was no room for Jesus, not because the people were wicked, but because they were busy.
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son… and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” — Luke 2:6–7 (NIV)
Busyness pushed the Saviour to the margins. The same danger exists today. Christ is not always rejected outright; often, He is simply crowded out.
The enemy of our souls understands this well. He does not always need to remove Christ from our lives; he only needs to distract us enough that we stop paying attention.
THE MEANING OF DECEMBER FOR THE CHRISTIAN
For the believer, December is more than a festive month. It is a sacred reminder of the incarnation—God stepping into human history in humility and love.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” — John 1:14 (NIV)
Jesus did not arrive with noise, spectacle, or excess. He came quietly, wrapped in humility, laid in a manger. The contrast between Christ’s arrival and our modern celebrations should give us pause.
December reminds us of:
- God’s nearness: “…They will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’).” (Matthew 1:23)
- God’s light: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…” (Isaiah 9:2)
- God’s gift: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6)
These truths call for reflection, worship, and gratitude—not spiritual numbness.
FINDING CHRIST IN A NOISY DECEMBER
The call for Christians is not withdrawal from celebration, but intentional vigilance. Scripture urges believers to remain spiritually alert:
“Be sober-minded; be watchful…” — 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)
Finding Christ in a noisy December requires deliberate choices, which include creating space for prayer and Scripture amid busyness, choosing depth over excess, asking honest questions such as, “Is this drawing me closer to Christ or dulling my sensitivity to Him?” and remembering that joy and holiness are not opposites.
Celebration is most meaningful when Christ remains at the centre.
IN THE WORLD, NOT LOST IN IT
Jesus prayed for His followers:
“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”— John 17:15 (NIV)
Christians are called to live in the world without losing spiritual clarity. December will always be loud. Culture will always celebrate in its own way. But the believer is invited to walk through the season anchored, aware, and awake.
RETURNING TO THE TRUE LIGHT
As the month unfolds and the noise intensifies, the Christian must ask: Am I lost in the lights, or led by the Light?
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:5 (ESV)
When the celebrations end and the lights are taken down, may Christ still be found at the centre of our hearts—not crowded out by busyness, not silenced by noise, but honoured, worshipped, and followed, just as He deserves.
Afehyiapa!!!
Written by Hulda Sakyi (PIWC–Portland)
