The Four Emotions of Christmas

by Bob Lepine

We expect Christmas to be a season filled with magic. And yet so often, we experience disappointment when our deepest longings go unfulfilled. What we want to be a nice, relaxing day turns into a stress-packed 24-hour period of time. Our loneliness and sadness are amplified because of how out of sync they are with what the season promises.

Is there anything that could bring us lasting joy?

Genres: Christmas, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction

80 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2022

About the author

Bob Lepine is the co-host of the popular daily radio program "Family Life Today," a nationally syndicated radio program heard in more than 200 cities across the country. A frequent speaker at Family Life Marriage Conferences, he lives with his wife and five children in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Reviews

[Miranda Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first heard about the concept of this book, it immediately resonated with me. Can’t we all look back over the years and remember vivid emotions—both positive and negative—associated with Christmas season? I have felt each of the emotions around the holidays that Bob Lepine walks us through in his main four chapters: disappointment, stress, sadness, and joy, sometimes even experiencing them in the same day!

We often get caught up in the hype of the season, for good or for bad. The intense joy we feel some years around Christmas celebrations cause the pang of disappointment and sadness we feel other years to sting more sharply. If Jesus brought joy to the world and there’s reason to celebrate, why do we feel these other emotions? Why is a holiday meant to bring peace often such a source of stress?

As a believer, I needed this book to help me stop and identify the emotions I have felt at different times around Christmas. Lepine gives practical help to address all of these emotions. But as he says, “ those practical ideas are just band aids or plasters… They can help address the symptoms a bit—but they don’t offer a real cure…. For the Christmas season and the rest of life to be what we long for it to be requires a fundamental realignment of our lives around a new center” (p. 55). That center is Christ. This book shepherds believers in our emotions by reminding us of the truth behind the Christmas story of God coming to earth to save.

Beyond that though, this book is an incredible evangelistic tool. If you and I as believers can resonate with the four emotions of Christmas, how much more unbelievers who don’t know Christ? It’s a short read so it’s very accessible and perhaps the discussion around emotions will strike a chord with someone who wouldn’t be open to a typical gospel tract. Most importantly, it will point them to a deeper, lasting hope in Christ. The gospel is beautifully displayed throughout the book and the author reminds us that, in turning to Christ, we can know his joy, peace and love. “The stresses and emotions of Christmas can be put into perspective as we experience the first taste of happiness and peace that will last forever” (p. 63).

[Bethan Lycett · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to Christmas I can honestly say I feel all the emotions covered in this book: sadness, stress, disappointment and joy, in varying degrees.

The book is easy to read, and although it has a few American statistics, it's suitable for a worldwide audience, as I'm pretty sure all these emotions are universal.

I appreciated the practical tips for each chapter on how to try and make the most of Christmas amongst these emotions, and have already been thinking how I can put these into action this year (especially relating to stress!).

Most importantly Bob Lepine highlights the only lasting joy of the season, Jesus, and there is a clear gospel message of how we can find lasting joy through trusting in Him.

The book has a really attractive and Christmassy cover, and will be perfect for giving away in the community. It also breaks down nicely for the 4 weeks of Advent.

My advice would be to read it early to get the most benefit before Christmas!

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last chapter bumped this little book up to 4 stars. I appreciated the clear Gospel message.

“For the Christmas season and the rest of life to he what we long for it to be requires a fundamental realignment of our lives around a new center. It involves nothing less than embracing an essential understanding of the significance of the very first Christmas. The reason God came to walk among us as one of us, as a human being, was to call us unto a relationship with him.”

2022 A book by a male conference speaker

[Fern Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

(2023 Reading) The irony that I’m reading this after Christmas as I didn’t have time before was not lost on me as I worked my way through the pages of this book! ‘The Four Emotions of Christmas’ is a short book exploring that Christmas isn’t and doesn’t have to be perfect and that sometimes it’s more difficult. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and sometimes going back to basics is the best thing you can do.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that many of the new Christmas books deal not with the dream of a perfect Christmas but instead deal with the sad times as well. This book was all about how many of our Christmases are not as good as we planned or hoped. And then the author explains how to have a better Christmas! This is a good book to give away and one that will bless the reader a ton.

[Bobby Bonser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little primer for the season on what it truly is all about. Lepine writes in a very relatable way and since this book is only $1 and free shipping on TFL it's a great one to buy in bulk and hand to anyone. Very short and can be read in about 30-45 min probably. The gospel was clear although it took a bit longer to get to it than I'd hoped.

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I appreciated about this book is that it honestly recognized the difficult emotions many of us experience during the Christmas season. Disappointment, stress, and sadness are all addressed, before he addresses joy. He ends the book with a clear gospel presentation, offering Jesus as the only real and lasting solution to the problems we face. This was a simple, encouraging read and a great reminder and explanation of what makes Christmas such a special holiday.

[Sydney Henkels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what my heart needed this Christmas! This is a short, simple read, but it’s the perfect pause in the middle of the Christmas season. It helped me re-center my heart on what truly matters and the real reason for the season. It would also make a great gift for non-Christians who are curious and want to learn more. Lepine does a wonderful job connecting the emotions to Scripture and explaining the why behind Christmas, including a great gospel share at the end.

[Kim Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Religious book that shows correlations with current emotions felt at Christmas and how Mary and Joseph must have felt the same. Very short book

[Adam Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the most wonderful time of the year - but it can also be a time of disappointment, stress and sadness. Bob Lepine explores these less-festive Christmas emotions, offering some practical tips on handling the festive stress, and also pointing to the more lasting solution of joy that we find in Jesus. There are a few American moments, but it is surprisingly relevant to a British audience too, and generally very accessible to people with little knowledge of the Bible's story. I appreciated Bob Lepine's recognition of mental health issues, and his acknowledgement that Jesus doesn't offer an immediate removal of disappointment, stress or sadness.

I do wonder, though, if the first three chapters (before you get to joy) make our celebrations of Christmas sound a bit too bleak? I can imagine some readers giving up in despair before they get to the good news!

[Joel Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s good to be realistic about the realities of Christmas, so easily filled with stress, disappointment, and sadness rather than comfort and joy. But true joy can still be found, in fact that’s what Christmas is for: “The key to finding the joy and love and hope and peace that Christmas promises is coming face-to-face with the person whose birth we celebrate and choosing to receive the new life he offers.”

The book is written with non-Christians in mind but I think it’s a helpful read for anyone to remind them why we need to focus on Jesus at Christmas.

[Leif Paulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful breezy read. Like Bob, I have memories of Christmas from the years, both good and bad. I enjoyed Bob’s mixing of his own personal experiences, the “expectations” from the world on the perfect Christmas, and what God’s Word explains. I’m hoping to prayerful consider giving this book to a colleague or neighbor. And also, thanks Bob for your intros and outros on Truth For Life!

[Liza Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful tool with practical tips on lessening the sometimes unavoidable emotions of disappointment, stress, and sadness at Christmas while pointing us to the ultimate joy found in Christ. It is also a great, inexpensive evangelistic tool to give away to friends, family, and neighbors as a clear Gospel presentation is given at the end.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this book, curious as to what it could offer. I think it could be good as an evangelistic tool around the holidays. Folks often to place a lot of expectations on Christmas and experience disappointment, stress, sadness, and joy. This book talks through those emotions, but then points to the one who satisfies. Could be very useful for churches, counselors, and evangelists.

[Nancy Bandusky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read that shows how the false expectations of Christmas can cause one to be filled with disappointment, stress, and sadness, instead of the joy that we desire. The solution is not more presents, more cookies, or more parties, but rather focusing on Christ. His birth was the beginning of His gift to us: being our Saviour, saving us from our sins and giving us eternal life with Him.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, Bob Lepine, does an excellent job of examining the four emotions that we often have at Christmas. Disappointment, Stress, Sadness and Joy are felt by many not necessarily every Christmas but as we grow.
Lepine then adds the final chapter about the Heart of Christmas and points us to Jesus.
A lovely short book that examines the emotions of Christmas.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read: about 45 minutes. Clear presentation of the gospel, along with some helpful tips for managing holiday stress and disappointment. He is clear that these tips are only band-aids, and the only true solution is Christ. A good resource to share.

[Hopson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, accessible book we’re giving away to our neighbors this Christmas. It contains a lot of practical advice on how to handle the holidays well, but more importantly it clearly explains the Gospel and the hope of Christmas.

[Katie Bliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, but to the point. Christmas should be joyful, but life isn’t perfect so it can be stressful, disappointing, even depressing. Jesus is the only answer to this problem, and His peace (a relationship with Him) transcends all problems, every day. To know Jesus is to know true joy.

[Serendipity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got a free copy of this from a conference. Simple, clear, short, practical, with a deeply personal anecdote, all while pointing back to Jesus Christ as the true heart of the Christmas season. I enjoyed how thoughtfully he unpacked some of the passages surrounding Jesus’ birth.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful book to read regarding the different emotions one may deal with during the Christmas season. The author talks about disappoint, stress, sadness and joy. I found the book very helpful, and it's easy to read.

[Sarah Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book enlightened me a bit about the story behind some carols. It has good asvice about dealing with sadness - practicing intentional gratitude, scheduling time for rest and volunteering. Also, changing priorities like Scrooge. It is a compact read and yet it contains much to think on.

[Ginger Hudock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shirt book, but one that will be very encouraging during the Christmas season,

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, quick and easy read. Maybe a little shallow, but good book to pass out at Christmas time. Evangelistic. Last chapter is the plan of salvation.

[Al Halpain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reminder of why we celebrate Christmas

[Megan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book that talks about the many things that people might be feeling at Christmas. This is a great book to both remind Christians of the Gospel and also to give to people to evangelize.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short booklet. Highly evangelistic and tract-like. Would put it in the hands of the average unbelieving American. This lays out the bad news and the very good news. ❤️

[Alexia Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was gifted this book at a local church and so happy I read this. Perfect read to be reminded of what this season is truly about. Gospel centred and filled with truths.

[Joel Wiedrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives you some things to think about. Good.

[Casondra Radford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet but a profound message of true hope found in Christ!