Why We Need Rest at Christmas

from All is Calm; Receiving Jesus’ Rest This Christmas on Youversion

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly,” the well-known carol begins. And so we do. 

Some of us prepare for Christmas at the first hint of cold weather, while others postpone the inevitable as long as possible. 

But at some point we all get caught in a vortex of activity—most of it fun and festive but exhausting nonetheless, leaving our souls feeling both stuffed and empty. Often, it’s in the midst of this hubbub of holiday cheer that we quietly wonder, “Is this all there is?” The good news is that beyond the cookie platters, shopping lists, and decorating is the Son of God made man for us.

God knows we’re prone to frenetic activity. This is one of the reasons He built in a day of rest for the Israelites every six days—that they might pause their doing and recognize the goodness of their God, their own desperate need for Him, and His gift of stillness. 

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:8-11

In practicing rest, we acknowledge God’s trustworthiness: even when we cease working, God continues to hold our world together. 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

This year I invite you, as our Lord and Savior invited His disciples, to come away with Him and get some rest, to slow down and rediscover the wonder and joy of the Christmas season in the midst of your favorite holiday traditions. 

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalms 62:1-2

But what does that look like? 

Over the next four days, we’ll practice restful worship using the acronym REST: remember His goodness, express your neediness, seek His stillness, and trust His faithfulness. 

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31

Will you accept His invitation this Christmas season? Come away for a while, and rest. 

Prayer: Oh Lord, You know me so well. You know that I long for a wonderful time with family and friends, but I overcommit, overreach, and overreact, and in the end, there’s just too much stress and hurt going around. I don’t want that this year. So I’m coming to You with open arms and an open heart. Here I am. Teach me to celebrate the birth of our Savior from a place of rest. Tune my heart to wonder at Your beauty and sing Your praise. Amen.