{"product_id":"that-was-the-worst-christmas-ever","title":"\"That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eSufjan Stevens’s melancholy Christmas song “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!” is more appropriately described as an Advent song. Although so many commercial and social media depictions of family Christmas gatherings are warm, fuzzy, and comforting, the reality is that many people dread the holiday season and its gatherings. By means of comparison, the visual depictions of the season often highlight our loneliness, our dysfunctional relationships, our sense of abnormality and brokenness. In Stevens’s song, a seemingly cozy family gathering becomes uncomfortable, even abusive. The family’s father throws their presents into the fireplace, and the protagonist’s sister runs away to escape ongoing trauma. But just as the song turns darker, Stevens sings these words with a rich, upward lilt: “In time the Lord will rise.” This Advent song recognizes the pain and darkness of the “wilderness” while also, finally, remembering that Advent is not a time for false peace but recognition of need. This is the need that only a risen Lord can heal. As Stevens continues, he reminds us that, although the Lord is our Savior and comforter, life is still often painful. He holds together both parts of the human experience, singing, “Silent night \/ Holy night … Nothing feels right.” No, nothing\u003cem\u003e feels\u003c\/em\u003e right. But the fact still stands that, “In time the Lord will rise.” This resurrection, this promise of new life and making things new, is supernatural and eternal, but it also occurred within human time, healing us in the process. Full song: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XpK-w6_FpY8\u0026amp;list=RDXpK-w6_FpY8\u0026amp;start_radio=1\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XpK-w6_FpY8\u0026amp;list=RDXpK-w6_FpY8\u0026amp;start_radio=1\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ministry Pass","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54011040956732,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0852\/9874\/1564\/files\/Screenshot2026-08-22100706.png?v=1787411262","url":"https:\/\/app.ministrypass.com\/products\/that-was-the-worst-christmas-ever","provider":"Ministry Pass","version":"1.0","type":"link"}