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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

­­You can feel it in the air already, can’t you? Stepping into a store, you see lit Christmas trees lined up one aisle, holiday music playing and sales everywhere. Retailers fervently promoting their products, and Amazon runs major sales events.

The holiday season, which I think of as a rollercoaster from Halloween through New Year’s Day, is when our everyday lives get upended by cultural insanity. People buy things they don’t usually buy, eat goodies they don’t normally eat, wear sweaters they wouldn’t be caught dead in at other times of the year, and pack their calendars with special events. Is it fun? It’s intended to be, but it can also cause physical and emotional burnout.

Here’s a non-holiday example of what can happen: Years ago, I worried about everything, particularly events in our church, because my young husband was the pastor. It was a small congregation with one aggressive member who opposed him in everything and caused deep dissension. This fellow also went around town with a business card saying he was the associate pastor, even though he wasn’t. My stress level was extreme. I expected more from Christians. My anxiety finally began to cause physical symptoms that sent me to the doctor. As he dug into the causes of my illness, I mentioned what was happening in our church. I told him how shocked I was at people’s behavior. He said, “Why are you so surprised? They’re just people.” That was the beginning of my recovery. I woke up to the fact that I expected too much. Can you relate that to the holidays?

On the other hand, God may use your stress to your advantage. Sometimes, anxiety forces us to recognize God’s sovereignty. Job was an example of that. He lost his children, his livestock, his fortune, his health, the respect of his friends, and the support of his wife, who urged him to curse God and die. Talk about riches to rags—that was Job. And Mrs. Job’s own anxiety had to be through the roof, too. We never consider her in the story except to criticize her…but I digress. Job didn’t come to peace until he had long talks with God. He finally recognized that God is sovereign and can do what He wants. But God is also a God of love. You see, walking through stressful times sometimes knocks down the wrong thinking we have developed without realizing it.

So, what’s my point? Is holiday stress good or bad? The answer is this: it depends on how you handle it. So, child of God, when the gift-buying, tree-trimming, and Christmas programs take their toll on you this season, step back, take a breath, and press into your heavenly Father. Be still and know that He is God.

“Dear Lord, we thank You for this joyful time of year, but pray for sanity this coming holiday season, that we will not expect too much. We invite You to our activities and ask that You infuse them with the Spirit of peace.”

 For His Glory

 Cherie Harbridge Williams (www.cherieharbridgewilliams.com)
TRBC Women’s Life