When Gifts Become a Trap

Merry Christmas! A season rich in joy, generosity, and togetherness. It’s a time when hearts turn to giving and receiving, all in celebration of the greatest gift humanity has ever known Jesus Christ. Yet amid the glittering paper and warm lights, there’s a subtle danger lurking: the temptation to measure the quality of our lives by the gifts we get or don’t get. This doesn’t just apply to Christmas morning. It can creep into every corner of our lives, silently shaping our happiness around what we experience rather than Who we worship.

For many of us, our emotions ride the waves of circumstances. We feel elated when life goes our way and deflated when it doesn’t. It’s as true for a four-year-old as it is for someone at seventy-four. And if we’re honest, this pattern doesn’t just vanish with maturity. It evolves. It digs in deeper. Even devoted believers find themselves battling to root their joy in Christ rather than in the ever-changing winds of life.

A fourteen-year-old girl named Tessa recently put this struggle into words: “Recently, I have been feeling more and more that my happiness depends on the circumstances around me. Will you please offer me biblical guidance on how I can root my joy in Jesus instead?” What a powerful and wise question for someone so young. In truth, it's a question we all need to ask and keep asking for the rest of our lives.

Here are four ways the Bible offers guidance on rooting your joy in Jesus rather than in temporary gifts or fleeting circumstances:

1. Understand God’s Purpose in Pain

We often seek joy in comfort and pleasure, but God is deeply invested in shaping our hearts for something much richer eternal joy grounded in Him. Sometimes, that shaping involves walking through difficulty. Romans 5:3–5 teaches us that “suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” This isn’t a passive hope it’s a hope that does not put us to shame, because it is filled with the love of God through the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul echoed this truth in 2 Corinthians 1:8–9, where he shared how deep suffering pushed him to rely not on himself but on “God who raises the dead.” Our trials are not meant to crush us, but to anchor us in something deeper than earthly comfort. They teach us that the ultimate joy is not found in avoiding pain, but in discovering Jesus in the midst of it.

2. See God in Every Good Gift

Not all gifts are grand or dramatic. Many come quietly a sunrise, a kind word, a refreshing drink of water. The Bible speaks of God’s Word being sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10) and Jesus as living water (John 4:10). These are not random metaphors; they are divine invitations. Every simple pleasure can be a glimpse into the character of God if we train our hearts to see Him there.

Studies show that gratitude significantly improves emotional well-being and reduces anxiety. What if that’s because we’re aligning ourselves with the way we were created to recognize the Giver in the gift? The next time you enjoy something good, whisper to your heart: “This is a glimpse of God’s goodness.” Whether it’s the sweetness of a favorite dessert or the comfort of a loved one’s presence, push through the gift to worship the Giver.

3. Make Your Time in Scripture Personal

Too often, Bible reading becomes routine or academic. But Scripture is not merely a manual for life it’s a window into the heart of God. When we read the Bible, we’re not just gathering information; we’re meeting a Person.

Instead of merely asking, “What should I do today?” when you open the Bible, start asking, “What is God like?” Discover His patience, His justice, His mercy, His love. Let the Word shape not just your actions, but your affections. Find joy not just in His promises, but in His presence. Jesus said, “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God” (John 17:3). This knowing is not theoretical it’s deeply relational.

4. Remember That Life Is Temporary

Though it may seem somber, contemplating death can actually lead to deep spiritual clarity. Psalm 90:12 urges us, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Why? Because remembering the brevity of life reveals what truly matters.

One global survey found that over 80% of people fear dying without purpose. But for the believer, death is not a departure into darkness it is an arrival into glory. If Jesus is your joy now, He will be your joy forever. And when the day comes to leave everything behind, the loss won’t feel like loss at all it will feel like coming home.

The world promises joy in the next gadget, relationship, promotion, or vacation. But each one, eventually, fades. Christ offers a joy that outlasts heartbreak, illness, disappointment, and even death itself. That is the kind of joy we’re invited into not circumstantial, but eternal.

So, how do we escape the gift trap?

We do it by recognizing that every good gift and every hard trial is meant to draw us closer to the Giver. We train our hearts to seek Him, see Him, and savor Him. We remember that the greatest gift of all isn’t under a tree. He hung on one.

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