Finding Peace this Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, but for many, it can also bring stress, grief, and anxiety. Whether it’s the pressure to meet expectations, financial concerns, or feelings of loneliness, the challenges of the season can feel overwhelming. Finding peace this holiday season may feel difficult, but it’s not impossible.
Here’s the good news: we don’t have to carry these burdens alone. God invites us to surrender our challenges to Him, trust in His promises, and receive His peace—a peace that goes beyond our understanding and guards our hearts and minds.
Recognizing the Tensions of the Holiday Season
For some, the holidays are a magical time of family traditions, twinkling lights, and cheerful carols. However, for others, the season stirs up painful memories, financial stress, or the ache of an empty chair at the dinner table. Even those who love the holidays can feel the weight of endless to-do lists and unrealistic expectations.
But no matter what you’re facing this holiday season, God sees you. He understands your struggles, and He offers a peace that isn’t dependent on perfect circumstances.
How to Surrender Your Challenges to God
The first step to finding peace this holiday season is surrender. Specifically, Philippians 4:6 reminds us to bring everything—our worries, fears, and struggles—to God in prayer.
Surrender doesn’t mean ignoring our challenges or pretending everything is fine. Instead, it means naming what’s weighing us down and giving it to God. Just as the shepherds left their flocks to seek Jesus the night He was born, we can leave our burdens behind and come to Him.
Take a moment to pause. What’s troubling you this season? Speak it aloud or write it down. Then, release it to God in prayer.
Prayer:
“Father, I surrender [your specific burden] to You. I trust that You are in control and that You care for me. Help me to release this burden and find rest in Your presence.”
Trusting and Resting in God’s Promises
Once we surrender our challenges to God, the next step is to trust Him. Furthermore, trusting God doesn’t mean our problems vanish instantly—it means we choose to believe in His goodness and faithfulness, even in the chaos.
Three promises to hold onto this holiday season:
- “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.” – Isaiah 26:3
- “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” – John 14:27
- “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.” – Psalm 55:22
When we trust God’s promises, we can rest in His peace. It’s not a peace the world can offer; it’s a supernatural calm that comes from knowing we are loved, protected, and provided for by our Heavenly Father.
Receiving God’s Peace
Philippians 4:7 promises that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds when we bring our anxieties to Him. This peace isn’t something we can create on our own—it’s a gift we receive as we draw closer to Jesus.
Practical ways to invite God’s peace into your life:
- Start each day with prayer: Spend a few quiet moments with God, asking Him to guide your day.
- Meditate on Scripture: Write down verses about peace and place them where you’ll see them often.
- Worship: Play worship music that shifts your focus from stress to God’s goodness.
- Pause to breathe: In moments of overwhelm, take a deep breath and whisper, “Lord, I trust You.”
As you create space for God’s presence, His peace will fill your heart and mind, regardless of what challenges you face.
If you’re looking for more on how to remain in God’s presence, read our post – Fruitful Faith: Abiding in the Vine.
Reflection
The holidays can be a challenging time, but they’re also a beautiful opportunity to experience the peace of God in a deeper way. By surrendering our burdens, trusting His promises, and resting in His presence, we can focus on finding peace this holiday season and discover calmness in the midst of the season’s chaos.
Let this holiday season be a time when you embrace the peace that only God can give. He is with you, offering His unshakable peace as a gift. Will you accept it?
