Finding Joy in the Temporary: A Christian Reflection on Sukkot

Jewish families around the world celebrated Sukkot this week —also known as the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles. It is a time of remembering the children of Israelites' 40 years wandering in the desert, after leaving Egypt, and celebrating God's miraculous protection and His provision, whilst celebrating the harvest.

By dwelling in temporary 'sukkahs' or tent-like structures for a week, Jews acknowledge the fragility of life and express joy and gratitude for both past miracles and God's continued care through His provision and protection.

For seven days, they feast on four special species of vegetation, pray, and sometimes even sleep in these small, fragile, makeshift, foilage covered structured huts, that are open to the natural elements of rain and wind, but also to the magnificence of the stars. They remember when God provided their ancestors daily with manna, water and shelter.  

At first glance, Sukkot might seem like a quaint, meaningful, ancient ritual. But for Christians, it holds a profound message: that life itself is temporary. Just as the Sukkah is a fleeting shelter, our bodies, possessions, and even our struggles are not meant to last forever. We, too, are pilgrims—passing through this world toward an eternal home.

In our modern lives, we build “booths” of another kind—houses, careers, relationships and routines—that feel solid and secure. Yet Sukkot reminds us how quickly everything can shift. It invites us to loosen our grip on the material and trust in God’s daily provision, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness.

There is also joy in this festival—joy in simplicity, community, and gratitude. The book of Leviticus calls it a “time of rejoicing,” because when we remember that all we have comes from God and all we are is held by Him, fear gives way to peace.

As followers of Christ, we can look at the Sukkah and see a reflection of Jesus Himself—God dwelling among us, the Eternal stepping into the temporary. This week, let us pause to thank God for His faithful presence in our fragile shelters. May Sukkot remind us that though our earthly tents may fall, our true eternal home is everlasting.

“For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God…” —2 Corinthians 5:1

Come into the Light

I truly believe my dog can tell the time. Every morning at 7am, she sits by our front door and starts whining to be taken for her first walk of the day. The problem with this is that South Africa does not have day light saving, so in winter 7am is still pretty much dark.

Although our walking path does have some lighting, its coverage is limited to only certain areas of the grass. However, my dog always insists on doing her business in the darkest part of grass, which has forced me to carry a torch to see, to pick up after her.

This morning ritual made me think of how often we too like to do our ‘dirty business’ in the dark. We keep these dark secrets about ourselves and our lives from others, hoping no one will see them.

However, I’ve discovered that it only needs a tiny speck of light to invade the darkness. When we stop hiding and get vulnerable enough to reveal our inner, darkest secrets with someone we can trust, it frees us of the shame and guilt that we have been carrying.

Coming into the light to live an authentic life, without pretending, without any secrets, is the only way we will ever find peace and joy. So today, ask yourself if there is some darkness in you that needs God’s light to shine through. Only when we are touched by God’s light, can we shine His light for others. It is God’s light that illuminates our path and guides our steps in the direction He wants to take us.

Time for Change

Starting a new year is a perfect time to reflect on our current habits and traditions that are no longer serving us. A case in point is the timing of our Christmas meal. Having grown up having a Christmas Eve meal and enjoying leftovers on Christmas Day, this was familiar and traditional for me. Whereas my husband grew up either having a full Christmas day lunch or going out to a Restaurant for their meal. Because Church has always been a priority for me for Christmas Day, it seemed easier to continue with my Christmas Eve meal tradition with my family.  However, this year, we were invited to friends for their Christmas Lunch, which caused us to re-evaluate our tradition.  Discussing it with the family, we agreed it was time for a change. Going forward, we will prep the meal on Christmas Eve, and after Church, we will cook and enjoy a proper Christmas meal together, for the first time, and enjoy the leftovers on Boxing Day instead!  It is never too late to start a new tradition.

So often in life we continue doing things the same familiar way, because that’s how we have always done them, never questioning the reasons we do them.  Traditions are passed down from one generation to the next, never changing or evolving.  This year, let us take time to reflect on what areas in our lives need change, that are no longer working for us, and ask God too what He is calling us to change.

One thing I have learnt, is that if you want a different outcome, you need a different input.  In other words, without change, nothing changes. So let us stop doing the same thing the same way, just because that’s the easiest. Some things in life need to be shaken up to shift us out of our comfort zone.  We need to stop seeing change as something negative, but to embrace it for the positive impact it can have in our lives.

There are many changes God has been nudging me about, which I intend to set in motion.  Some are new, healthier choices which I will try to discipline myself with everyday until it becomes a habit. I have also chosen a friend who I have confessed my desire to change, who will be holding me accountable, which will motivate and encourage me to keep on track.

Some changes may seem difficult or even unsettling.  Yet, as Christians, we are assured that God is with us through every transition. One of the most powerful aspects of change is the way it draws us closer to God. In moments of uncertainty or struggle, we are often reminded of our dependence on Him. Change invites us to place our trust fully in God, knowing that He is always faithful.

Change isn't just for our own or our family’s benefit; but it serves a greater purpose of creating the life God desires for us. As we change things externally in our lives, we find that we too have changed inside.  A butterfly is a reminder that change can be beautiful.

So whatever changes we need to or intend to make this year, let us embrace them and push through every challenge to see them become a reality.  Let 2025 be a time for change— a year to let God renew us, transform us, and use us for His purposes. Let us trust God as we step boldly into the new and different things He has in store for us, as we obediently, and with discipline, make the necessary changes needed in our lives.  So that when 2026 comes about, we can look back with pride of what we have accomplished through change…