Faces glow with wonder as children wait for the great day to arrive. With mounting excitement they watch presents pile up beneath the decorated tree. We sing carols; eat too many mince pies and party too hard. In the crush of late night shopping we buy gifts and, scratching our heads, wonder what we can give great Uncle Wilf. Fewer of us write Christmas greetings to friends and family but we still meet. “It’s worth it,” we say, dreaming of cold snowy days when we can peacefully snuggle up beside the crackling fire, sipping hot apple cider, oblivious to the mayhem such weather causes outside.

With the right elements we can create a pleasant ambience which helps generate a sense of well-being. The Danes call this sense of well-being ‘hygge’. Having recently visited a friend in Copenhagen we can understand why the Danes seek to create such cosy atmospheres. The weekend we were there the skies were wild and indiscriminately pelted us with weapons of mass-destruction like rain. The Danes wore thick waterproofs to defend themselves against the elements. We did not and found ourselves soaked to the skin.

Back in our friend’s apartment we changed our sodden clothes for thick woolly jumpers. We lit candles and, cradling mugs of steaming coffee, munched delicious pastries. The rain drummed relentlessly against the window but in the warmth of her lounge we were secure. That afternoon our souls were comforted but the true sense of our comfort lay beyond the mere cosiness of her home.

Our desire for comfort, peace and joy in the innermost parts of our beings is natural. And yet we live in a world where it’s hard to shut the door on suffering. But the Bible tells us we can know joy in the midst of agony. It tells us that there is a joy and comfort that the world’s troubles cannot extinguish — a deep joy that is impervious to the deluge of grief.

Over the years I’ve wondered whether this is true. Especially since I used to believe that by loving and serving God He would protect me from suffering, and He didn’t. Non-Christians and Christians alike all face suffering. Our bodies get sick, relationships break down and loved ones die but the Bible says that God can work all things together for good to those who know and love Him.

So when life works together for my good it is because of His grace. If I am well it’s because of His goodness and if someone loves me it’s because of His kindness.

I am sure God hates pain and suffering and I’m equally sure He understands our pain. After all He came into the world and experienced it first-hand. But allowing God to take our pain and work it for our good means that we have to develop new habits. I’m learning that I must stop complaining, stop trying to blot out misery and run from its agonies. Instead I need to cultivate a thankful heart that sees all as His grace.

God does not promise us success or happiness; He promises us new life. He doesn’t always change our circumstances because He wants to change our inner being to be like His Son. His purposes are fixed. He desires an intimate relationship with us and this is the basis of our joy.

Yes, we long for warmth and Hygge seeks to make our homes nicer and people happier. The family gathers, we eat comforting food and cherish one another, but this cosiness passes. At the time it feels good but at best it is an ephemeral sensation absent of the underlying truth of real joy.

We do not come to Christianity because it is comforting. We come to Christianity because it is true. God doesn’t take us away from the hardness of life but through His strength He teaches us how to deal with life’s sorrows. Sometimes we suffer deeply and only He can truly comfort the hurts of our hearts.

At Christmas we remember Jesus’ birth on earth. We picture Him born in a manger, on a bed of straw, surrounded by those who loved Him. But He did not come to evoke misty-eyed affection. He came to overcome the sin of this world: to bring truth, hope and rock-solid comfort to our lives. And this truth fills us with wonder.