God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen {A Collective Christmas Carol Tale}

by Kayla Cook

God rest ye merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
when we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy


Y'all, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is my very favorite Christmas song, but that hasn't always been the case. Only in the last several years did I even open my little heart to more than O Holy Night. And when I did, I let this under-appreciated carol both wreck my heart and wrap me in peace. It does so because it tells the gospel story so concisely and so well.

"God rest ye merry gentlemen,"- God provides rest. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29, NIV). Jesus bids us come weary and burdened, and He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

"Let nothing you dismay,"- I tend to think of dismay as disappointment, but a quick google search of "define dismay" tells me it's more than that. The definition is much closer to distress than disappointment. "Disquiet" is a synonym, which is a feeling of anxiety or worry. Ah, there it is. That familiar yet unwelcome guest. And this song tells me to let nothing dismay me. Nothing? Is that even possible? Look no further than your Facebook feed, or maybe your church or friend group or family, or maybe even your own heart, and you'll find plenty of reason to be dismayed. There is loss and there is grief, there is betrayal and there is rejection, there is disease and drama and doubt. And yet, "let nothing you dismay." It feels like a tall order, a sometimes impossible order, but it's not, and here's why:

"Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day"- Jesus. He's the answer to every question and every problem. He stepped down from Heaven to enter our brokenness, and here's why:

"To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray,"- This is why Jesus came: because we, each and every one of us, need a Savior. Ephesians 2:1-5 tells us that we were dead in our transgressions and sin, all of us, when we "followed the ways of the world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air" (y'all, listen, that's Satan). Because of that, we were deserving of the wrath of God. But because of His great love for us, in His incredible mercy, God made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sin- this is grace, and by grace we are saved. Even today, our enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). That sounds terrifying, doesn't it? That's because it is...well it would be, if we didn't have Jesus. But greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)! We can submit ourselves to God, resisting the devil, and he will flee (James 4:7).

"O tidings of comfort and joy"- God has been speaking comfort to His people since before Jesus came (Isaiah 40:1). He comforts His people so we can comfort others with the comfort we received from Him (2 Corinthians 1:4). He is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) and the God of hope, who fills us with joy and peace as we trust in Him (Romans 15:13). Jesus tells us about abiding in Him and keeping His commands in John 15, and in verse 11, He says He tells us this "so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." Comfort and joy, from the King of heaven to your heart- what a good God.

I hope you hear the gospel every time you hear God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen this season. I hope you share it with someone who needs to hear it, and y'all, that's all of us. Those who have never met Jesus need Him, and those who know Him need to be reminded of His goodness and His grace. May you find rest in the completed work of Christ this season and always. Tidings of comfort and joy from my home to yours.