Peace During the Holidays
1/3/2024
Written by: Jeni Purtlebaugh
Every year the holidays are difficult for someone whether that be because of personal struggles, familial struggles, grief, etc. Sometimes the holidays are just difficult in general. Grief can be especially hard to deal with, even if it is grief from many years ago. It is always still noticeable when a loved one is missing from the celebrations.
This is my eighth Christmas and New Years without my dad, and I still feel the grief every holiday; it may feel a little less with each year, but definitely still there. Usually it is around the holidays that I cling to Jesus the hardest to find some peace for my soul. These are a few verses on peace that I look to when I need to recenter my mind on the peace that Jesus provides.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” John 14:27
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:7
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety,” Psalm 4:8
I try to remember, not just around the holidays, but always, that the peace I am constantly searching everywhere for can only be given by Jesus; by reading His Word and listening to His voice that speaks through the verses on the page.
I will not find true peace in my family, friends, or spouse. I have to remind myself that if I want miraculous peace, I have to let the miraculous God work in me. Allowing Jesus to provide peace for your heart is not always an easy task, and especially in difficult times of grief, but with the miraculous help of Jesus, through peace that transcends all understanding, we can celebrate and truly enjoy the holiday season.
It has taken me many years to be able to feel joyful, without feeling guilt, during the holidays so I know that it is not an easy task to surrender feelings of grief and allow Jesus to give me the peace I always pray for.
I just want to encourage you to believe that there is peace that can be found in Jesus, peace that can cover all of the grief and pain you feel and that I would not be able to feel joy during the holidays if it weren’t for the peace that Jesus has provided for me. I also want to encourage you to find a few verses that you can recenter your mind on and focus on the peace that Jesus can give you freely so long as you allow Him to.