The holiday season is in full swing! Everyone responds emotionally with different memories, some wonderful and some heart breaking. Isn’t it funny how the holiday season can be such a blessing and such a curse? We love to sing “Peace on Earth” while slowly losing ours rushing from party to play and fretting over the perfect gift while staying in budget. At least that is what happens to me!
My personal calendar during this time of year is slam packed! We have church events, school events, plus finding time to make the season special for our little family. I have found myself dreading these things instead of being excited to spend time with much loved friends and family. I have always loved everything about Christmas, but in the last few years my husband and I have lost very special people, and now there is a sadness that wasn’t there before. It just seems like so much to deal with when it would be easier to stay home with my four and no more.
Life happens to us all! We all will face heartache, disagreements, pain, on and on. Instead of trying to avoid the negative in life, I want to encourage you to seek out Godly peace. I think it is so important to keep our peace in every season of our lives, especially this time of year. I often pray, “God let there be peace in our home, or in that situation, or at this event”. I love John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” You will here it a lot around here because THAT is such a part of God’s plan for our lives! Not to be overcome by sadness, stress, or anxiety. So How do we do that?
Spend time with God every day: This is the number one thing we can do! It can be anything from a small 5 minute devotion to an hour spent in his presence. If you haven’t started a daily habit it’s never too late to start and no time is too short! We were created for relationship with Him.
Give thanks: This is something I have personally been working on! In our culture we are constantly told that we need more, should look differently, and what we have isn’t right or enough. I have started to fall into the trap more than once, but I am trying to learn to fight it with a thankful heart! It is so hard to stay in a negative mindset when you start thinking about all the things you are thankful for. Learn how to give thanks in ALL things!
Spend quality time with your spouse, kids, or those closet to you without your phones in hand: It is incredibly easy to be together without actually making true connection with one another. Our people need us to look in their eyes and really see them. And we need it too.
Know when you have reached your limit and say no to the extra without guilt: When we are so busy saying yes to everyone and everything, we aren’t able to say yes to the most important things like God and our families.
We can’t look to the the things of this world to give us true peace in our day to day lives and especially not in our darkest times. Sometimes I realize I have tried everything but going to God when I am having a hard time! Why do we do that? When Jesus left his disciples in John 14:27 he told them “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.” So whatever season you may find yourself in, I hope that you will seek peace by seeking after God first!
🖤 Sheena