Christmas in a Season of StruggleSample

How To Find Rest at Christmas

“May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him.” Romans 15:13 (GW)

It’s called the most wonderful time of the year. But for many people, it doesn’t feel that way. Maybe instead of wonder, you’ve found worry this Christmas season. Instead of experiencing peace on earth, you’re overwhelmed by stress.

Wherever you find yourself this Christmas, Jesus Christ has an incredible offer for you. He says, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 CEV).

I like that verse because it says the exact opposite of what most people think God will say to them. They think that if God wants them to come home to him this Christmas, he’s going to make some demands along with that.

They think he’ll say something like, “Come home to me and I will give you rules. Come home to me and I will give you regulations. Come home to me and I will give you restrictions. Come home to me and I will give you religion. Come home to me and I will give you rituals.”

But God doesn’t say any of those things. He says, “Come to me and I will give you rest.”

Read that again. God is offering you true rest from your heavy burdens.

Do you find yourself living in a constant state of fatigue and stress? That’s because you’re trying to live your life on your own power. And God never meant for you to do that. Instead, God wants you to rely on and rest in his power.

The Old Testament says, “He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak” (Isaiah 40:29 NCV).

And the New Testament promises: “God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come” (Colossians 1:11 NCV).

If you’ve been feeling down, anxious, fatigued, or worried this Christmas season, come home to God. He’s the one who created you. He’s watched every moment of your life and knows everything about you—and he still loves you. He forgives you and invites you to come home to his peace and strength.

Won’t you come home to him today? When you do that, you’ll find real rest this Christmas.

This devotional © 2024 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.