I have more than my fair share of Christmas ornaments. I’ve also had a few mishaps with them.

The wings on the ceramic angel Love fell off. An ornament that contained a Christmas tree lost its Christmas tree. My favorite crystal star slipped off a limb and shattered. These broken ornaments accumulated during a time when I was broken. Years later, I finally picked up the pieces and fixed what I could. Nothing a bit of glue couldn’t handle.

If only life could be that easy for us. For all the joy Christmas brings, it can also magnify our losses. Death, financial struggles, and strained relationships can leave us feeling broken. Yet God offers hope and healing.

Christ was born to deliver us from our brokenness. We can overcome it. Painful situations may break us, yet God does not design us to stay broken. Jesus was merciful to people—lepers, the blind, the disabled, and even one notorious woman at the well. Christ offers the healing and redemption we desperately need. We celebrate the baby’s birth, yet the man who gave Himself to be broken for our sakes redeems us.

Still, time is often required to push past our pain and embrace God’s restoration. It is even possible to use our broken experiences to help others, which reflects God’s light and fulfills our purpose.

My crystal star hangs once more. Its glaring imperfections no longer bother me. Instead, they are a gentle reminder of God’s ability to mend broken people and get us back where we belong. Though flawed, the crystal still reflects the light around it. And so can we.

If you feel broken, I pray for peace and new hope for you in the coming New Year. I challenge you to allow God’s love to heal and restore you. If you’re feeling festive, show love and empathy for those who may not. We all heal in our own time. As messengers of the gospel, we should also lend an ear to those desperate for understanding. Sometimes, we do the most when we say the least.

Merry Christmas.