Why Does Christmas Feel More Stressful than Restful?
Forgive me for asking the question.
Maybe it’s just me. But why is Christmas more stressful than restful?
Have you felt the tension? You want to sit by the fire with a good book, taking your time to sip French Pressed coffee as you turn the pages.
But there is so much to do.
After dinner, you dream of stretching out on the sofa to enjoy a favorite holiday movie. But there is so much to do.
If you are like me, every fall you dream of downtime at Christmas. Taking things a bit more slowly. Stopping to smell the cider and enjoy the lights.
But there is so much to do.
For some of us, the Christmas season, with the promise of rest and peace, becomes a season of emotional and physical exhaustion. You know the routine: attending mandatory social events, buying last-minute gifts, wrapping, decorating, cooking, and rushing. Full parking lots. Congested streets. Crowded shops.
It all makes me feel, in a word, weary.
It is easy to turn blessings into burdens.
The apostle Paul knew requiring the observation of special days, or an entire season is a dangerous business. In Galatians 4:8-11, he writes,
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
There was false teaching in the churches of Galatia that emphasized the celebration of special days as an essential part of remaining in good standing with God. For them, sinners are justified through faith in Jesus, plus observing special religious days.
In view of Paul’s warning, is it okay to celebrate Christmas by remembering the inauguration of God’s redemptive rescue mission? Absolutely! it is required. No. Can slowing down to process the implications of incarnation be a blessing? Of course.
In the context of the gospel, remembering the first advent of Jesus is intended to be a means of grace, not a means of stress. As a means of grace, as you enjoy cider, light candles, hang lights, and exchange gifts, consider the season a bonus opportunity to imbibe God’s merciful declaration of grace to sinners, savoring the kindness expressed by the Father to send his son in love to save those whom he would adopt as his own.
I hope it helps to realize there isn’t a right or wrong way to celebrate Christmas. A believer’s merit is not in how we do a holiday. It is found exclusively in the obedience and sacrifice of Jesus–his doing, not ours. We cannot attain an “I did Christmas right this year” righteousness. That is good news!
But we still feel the pressure of holiday expectations we put on ourselves.
Buying the perfect present. Decorating the perfect home. Hosting the perfect holiday party. Mailing the perfect family card. Cooking the perfect dinner.
For the sake of your mental health, you secretly may have considered, like the Cranks, taking a pass on Christmas. That would be okay. But there may be a better way than covering our eyes, ears, and mouths until the lights are taken down and the new year arrives.
Matthew 11 presents the better way, where Jesus makes an invitation that sounds custom-made for this time of year.
28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Christmas is not about what we have done for God in celebration. It is about what God has done for us through an incarnation that led to crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Infant Jesus is now King Jesus. My guess is the King wants you to celebrate Christmas by enjoying his gift to you. Resting in grace. Convinced of mercy. Basking in his victory over sin and death.
But I know this is easier said than done. The weariness often remains. Recognizing the challenge, let me give you a practical takeaway that I hope will prove practical for navigating the days ahead.
Take your weariness to Jesus.
Confess it. Then, just ask.
Jesus, will you take my weariness and give me rest?
Will you take my anxiety and replace it with peace?
Will you take my fears and restore my hope?
Will you take my sin and let me rejoice in your immeasurable grace and unfailing love?
This is what it means to experience the freedom that Jesus was born to bring. Freedom from the expectations, demands, burdens, and stress that we put on ourselves and on others. And freedom from the condemnation of our sin so that we can sing.
Speaking of sin and singing, there is a well-known hymn that proclaims grace and hope for those needing peace and joy. It is a Christmas hymn for the weary. I bet you know it.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel voices O night divine, O night when Christ was born.
Yes, the weary world rejoices with the thrill of hope in a glorious new morning that compels us to worship our Savior-King, not just on Christmas, but every day of the year. Therefore, go to Jesus, the one who takes your burdens, grief, weariness, and sin upon himself, and find rest for your soul. Then, enjoy that hot cup of cider by a crackling fire.
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Wonderful words of encouragement, McKay. I needed that.