How to Find Rest This Christmas
Finding Rest in Christmas
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14
Is it possible to find rest in the holidays?
Target, Walmart, and scores of other retailers set out Christmas decorations before Halloween was over. The brightly-colored websites blink violently at me, urging me to buy even more Christmas décor and/or gifts— Now. Today. Before it is too late.
Are you feeling stressed yet?
Maybe you are still worn out/basking in the glow of your properly socially distanced Thanksgiving holiday? It was a delightful time of fellowshipping, telling good stories, and staying up too late. Or, maybe you are feeling the ache of not being able to join with family or friends for Thanksgiving, or possibly Christmas.
Why not stop… ?And pray. “Lord, this holiday season, this time of waiting for Christmas to come, may you spare us from the pressure to rush!!!” Listen! God answers us! ‘Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’ Luke 2:14
Charles Spurgeon explains this peace so poetically. Though he wrote centuries ago, see if his words sound familiar:
“There had been wars within as well as wars without. Conscience had fought with man; Satan had tormented man with thoughts of sin. There had been no peace on earth since Adam fell. But, now, when the newborn King made his appearance, the swaddling band with which he was wrapped up was the white flag of peace.”
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Do you need help finding rest in Christmas?
Check out this four-part devotional series designed to help you…Slow down. Let go…of the frenzy, worry, rush…
Hear the story of the wonders God has done—in the lives of people who also struggle with fear, anxiety and loss of hope.
Each of the four weekly guides contains five daily activities:
Day 1: Devotional
Day 2: Reflection Questions
Day 3: Story Starters
Day 4: Prayer
Day 5: Music
Aren’t we still today sick of the wars without and the wars within? The internal war with guilt over failures large and small? The ache for peace on earth, for bitter divisions to cease?
The good news of Christmas is that God has wrapped us in Christ’s swaddling blanket of peace. God’s favor rests on us. Because of that favor, let us draw near to the God who has drawn near to us to find true rest this Christmas.
A Prayer for Finding Rest in Christmas
Lord, We confess—the rush of Christmas frenzy drowns out our fears and regrets—fears that we’re not enough, regrets that we’ve blown it with our kids, friends, parents. Help us, we ask, to dial our activity level way way down, even to a snail’s pace, in order to soak up your grace. Give us the infant’s rest, the Infant’s rest, the true rest of Christ’s birth, this season. We ask in the name of your saving Son. Amen
Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash