“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Luke 2:14
The Christmas season. I love it. The tree lights twinkle. The scent of pine and cinnamon fills the air. My husband has a few days off work. We decorate, listen to Christmas music, and everyone seems to carry a bit more cheer. Even after the day itself has passed, it’s fun to stay in Christmas mode with late nights, long mornings, movies, leftovers, and rest. The rhythm slows—the noise quiets. For a while, life feels simple. But as much as I love this season, I’ve learned that it also reveals what’s really in my heart.
Because the holidays can be fantastic, but they can also be hard!
When Holiday Joy Meets Real Life
For many of us, Christmas brings a mix of beauty and brokenness. The joy of being together often collides with the reality of life in a fallen world. There are moments of laughter and moments of tension. There’s gratitude and there’s grief. There’s togetherness and sometimes loneliness.
We envision the perfect Hallmark holiday, but instead, we often face a harsh reality.
The truth is, none of our struggles magically disappear when December arrives.
Our sinful hearts don’t take time off for the holidays. Conflict doesn’t vanish under twinkle lights. And physical pain, fatigue, or family dynamics don’t pause just because we’re listening to Christmas music.
If anything, the season can amplify all of it.
I’ve learned that if I’m not careful, I can slip into believing the holiday itself will bring peace. That the food, the music, or the time off will somehow reset everything. But that kind of peace never lasts.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
True peace isn’t found in perfect holidays. It’s found in a perfect Savior.
The Heart of the Struggle
Let’s be honest about what often shows up at Christmas, whether we invited it or not:
- Our sinful hearts. No matter where we go, we bring ourselves with all our impatience, pride, and expectations.
- Physical or chronic pain that doesn’t take a vacation.
- Tired, irritable children whose sugar highs and broken sleep can test every bit of patience.
- Tired, irritable parents who long for rest but still have laundry, dishes, and emotions to manage.
- Comparison and disappointment when social media highlights everyone else’s “perfect” Christmas.
- And let’s not forget our slow metabolisms as we eat our way through Christmas cookies and fudge!
It’s funny until it’s not. Because these little things, the fatigue, the frustration, the unmet expectations, can slowly chip away at our joy if we aren’t guarding our hearts.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23
The Gospel Still Applies
The lessons we’ve been learning and practicing all year- grace, patience, humility, and gratitude- are the same lessons that apply at Christmastime. The holidays don’t change who we are or what God requires of us. They provide us with a new setting in which to practice what He has already taught us.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
Our focus should remain the same, whether it’s the middle of July or the middle of December: seek Him first.
When family gatherings become tense, when expectations crumble, when fatigue sets in, we can pause and remember: Every day is an opportunity to live out the gospel. The same grace that rescued us is the grace that enables us to love, serve, and forgive during the most “wonderful time of the year.”
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
The Enemy’s Subtle Strategy
We shouldn’t be surprised that the holidays can bring spiritual battles. Satan would love nothing more than to steal our joy, sow division, and distract us from the very One whose birth we’re celebrating. He delights when irritation replaces gratitude. He rejoices when comparison replaces contentment. He wins small victories when our focus shifts from Christ to chaos.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
That’s why we must stay alert. Even in the joy of the season, we must guard our hearts and keep our gaze on Jesus. Every moment of celebration is also an opportunity: an opportunity to honor the Savior by reflecting His character in the midst of all that we are facing.
Practical Ways to Guard Your Joy
Here are a few practices that help me keep my heart centered when December gets hectic:
- Start the day with worship.
Before the busyness begins, I read a verse or a simple Advent devotional. Even five minutes of Scripture can refocus my heart.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7
- Lower expectations.
Perfection is not the goal; presence is. No one remembers flawless decorations, but they’ll remember how they felt in your presence.
- Pray before entering gatherings.
Ask God for patience, humility, and eyes to see others the way He does.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” 1 Corinthians 13:4
- Make gratitude visible.
Keep a journal or a notecard where each family member writes one thing they’re thankful for each day. Gratitude changes the atmosphere.
- Rest in grace.
You will mess up. You will get tired. You might even lose your temper. When you do, confess quickly and let grace reset the tone.
“His mercies are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:23
Remember What We’re Celebrating
The miracle of Christmas isn’t that we create perfect family memories. It’s that God stepped into our imperfect world. The message of Christmas is Emmanuel — God with us. He came into our chaos, into our brokenness, into our world of fatigue, conflict, and unmet expectations. He didn’t wait for us to get our act together. He came to redeem us right in the middle of our mess.
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
So when the house is loud, the schedule is off, and your heart feels tired, remember: the One whose birth we celebrate understands. He came to bring peace to hearts that can’t create it on their own. And that is good news of great joy.
A Prayer for a Christ-Centered Holiday
Lord, Thank You for the gift of this season; for lights that remind us of Your glory, for songs that tell Your story, and for the people You’ve placed in our lives. Help me to seek You first, even in the noise and busyness of the Christmas season. When I’m tired, I renew my strength. When conflict arises, give me words of peace. When I’m tempted to focus on what isn’t perfect, remind me of the perfection of Your love.
Guard my heart from comparison and distraction. Let every decoration, every meal, every gathering point point back to You. Teach me to live the gospel during this season that celebrates the very One who made the gospel possible. And when the day is done, let my joy be found not in a perfect holiday but in the ideal Savior who came to dwell with us. Amen.
Reflection Questions
- What tends to steal your peace or joy during the holiday season?
- How can you intentionally seek God first in your home this Christmas?
- What would it look like for you to “live the gospel” in your family gatherings this year?
The holidays are not about perfect moments — they’re about a perfect Savior.
Photo credit: GettyImages/SebastianGauert
