Retail Therapy

Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness the prisoners.”

Today is known as “Black Friday”—the official kickoff of the holidays for retailers everywhere. Perhaps you are one of the many who will venture out to take advantage of bargains today. After all, who can resist a day of good deals and some uninterrupted retail therapy, right?

Several years ago, I called a friend and caught her just as she was walking out the door to go shopping. She spent a few minutes telling me about some of the trials she was facing with her son before she had to go. As we hung up, she commented that her day of shopping would provide her with relief from her worries for awhile. “I’m in need of some serious retail therapy!” she exclaimed.

That quick conversation got me thinking about the concept of retail therapy. Why is it that spending money, fighting crowds and walking long distances can serve to ease our minds? Why does this appeal to us? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that shopping serves as a temporary surface substitute for the deep soul satisfaction God offers. God provides retail therapy of the eternal kind if we will only let Him.

Customer Service: God offers the ultimate customer service. Where many retailers tout, “We treat you like family,” God really does! We are His adopted sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5), made part of His family through Jesus’ sacrifice. He is always there for us as our Heavenly Father, offering wisdom (James 1:5), forgiveness (Psalm 103:3), grace (Ephesians 1:17), a listening ear (Exodus 22:27), and a shoulder to cry on (Psalm 18:6).

24 Hour Help Line: We can go to God through prayer whenever and wherever we need. His word tells us that He will hear from Heaven and respond. (I John 5:14-15)

Unconditional Guarantee: God guarantees He will love us unconditionally. He is love. The Bible tells us His love will not fail (I Corinthians 13:8) though we surely will. This truth brings me great peace when I mess up!

Exchange Policy: We can exchange the things of this earth for His perfect provision. We can exchange our heavy burdens for light ones (Psalm 68:19). We can exchange our worries for rest (Matthew 11:28-30). We can exchange our guilt for freedom (Isaiah 55:7) We can exchange death for life (Psalm 49:7-8). The best part is we don’t need proof of purchase because He already took care of that. The blood Christ shed on the cross has covered us for eternity. We should be celebrating that truth so much more than a great sale at our favorite store!

Free Gift With Purchase: Jesus’ sacrifice purchased our salvation. He paid the ultimate price so we don’t have to. In accordance with God’s plan, we are offered the free gift of eternal life in Heaven. No more troubles, no more sorrow, no more tears—not because of anything we did but because of what He did. This gift is ours for the taking if we will only ask. I don’t know about you, but I love a free gift!

No offer refused! You might be thinking, “Oh, but you don’t know who I am or what I have done.” But God does. The good news is, He loves you anyway and freely offers His best to you just as you are. You don’t have to qualify or complete a form. He simply says, “Come.” (John 7:37) He will take your meager offering—your broken life—and transform it into something beautiful for His glory.

Isaiah 61: 3, “To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”

As you shop today or at any time this Christmas season, think of what God has to offer that the world can not. Pause often as you shop to send up little prayers of thanksgiving for the ultimate gift of eternal life. Pray for others you see who are in need of His retail therapy. Look for ways to bless others and point them back to Him this Christmas season.