8 Verses for Finding Peace When the Holidays Make You Anxious
Autumn & Thanksgiving
Audio By Carbonatix
By Micah Maddox, Crosswalk.com
The holidays are a time filled with excitement and anticipation. However, sometimes the anticipation of family gatherings, large spreads of food, parties, and programs can be overwhelming. The demand to make things memorable and perfect can fill the mind with uncertainty and questions. When you throw in complicated family relationships, a dash of dysfunction, and the dynamic changes time can bring, the holidays can be hectic.
This season can quickly turn into anxiety-filled moments that some people don’t look forward to. If the holidays make you particularly anxious, today we are going to unpack a few verses to help take your heart from chaos to calm.
Here are eight verses and prayers to help you through the holidays.
1. Find Peace with a Focused Mind
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3).
The mind will create scenarios that never happen, focusing on heartbreak and exaggeratedly complicated situations. We can replay conversations over and over, question the motives of ourselves and others. When we bring this kind of overthinking into an already stressful holiday season, we are destined to struggle.
There is a better way. What if instead of focusing on all of the difficult situations and scenarios that could arise, we focused our minds on Christ instead? It takes intentional effort, but results in personal peace.
Lord,
I focus my mind on you. I choose to intentionally set aside my heartaches and complicated family dysfunction for you.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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2. Find Peace in God’s Grace
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).
We know God gives us grace, but we are often slower to offer it to those who have hurt us or let us down. What if instead of holding grudges and making things difficult, we blessed those around us instead?
Sometimes it is difficult to extend love to those who don’t love back, but we love because He loved us first. Choose to bless the people you encounter during the holidays. This is sure to bring you more peace.
Lord,
Help me bless the people around me in ways beyond my capability. Give me fresh eyes to see and a heart to serve.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. Find Peace through Faith in God
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
Have you ever watched someone walk through a really difficult situation with grace and love? This is what faith in God can do. You can have peace through the power of Jesus when you have faith in His power.
Rather than focusing on the negative situations you might have to walk through, choose to walk into them strong in your faith. When we invite God into our situations, we behave differently. Peace is a byproduct of living by faith.
Lord,
Increase my faith in you during this time.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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4. Find Peace through Prayer
“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 surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
We all know we should pray. Ask anyone how to get closer to God or how to feel God near and they will most likely advise you to pray. There is a reason prayer is so important for Christian growth and peace. Paul wisely reminds the church at Philippi that the anecdote to anxiety is talking to God in prayer.
Take your complicated family crisis, your social anxieties, and your struggle to enjoy the holidays to the Lord in prayer and let Him give you peace.
Lord,
I need you to guard my heart and my mind this season. Thank you for giving me peace.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
5. Find Peace in God’s Power
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Difficult circumstances are sure to impact each of us. We live in a world where good and evil are constantly at odds. This makes relationships complex and hard work.
If you are facing a difficult relationship or circumstance that seems too hard to handle, remember who is in control. God already knows what you are going through. He holds the power to help you and to give you hope.
Lord,
You know my situation. Please give me the power to find peace in spite of what is happening.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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6. Find Peace in God’s Presence
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).
Have you ever felt like God is far away? It can become easy to get discouraged and lose our peace when God feels like he is a million miles away. But the Bible tells us that He is our peace at all times.
No matter what you are facing or how difficult your future seems, peace is possible in God’s presence. Take your burden to Him and lay it down.
Lord,
I cast this heavy load at your feet. I need peace. I need you.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
7. Find Peace through Courage
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).
It is not time to cower in weakness and hide away for the holidays. It is time to stand strong in the Lord. Fear will come, but it will only go if you replace it with God’s peace. He promises to give it, but it is up to us to take it.
When Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled,” this is not a suggestion. It is a command to live without fear of the future. The disciples were concerned because Jesus was getting ready to leave them. His message to them is the same for us. We do not have to fear because we can be strong and have peace because God has given it to us for the taking. Don’t ignore the peace that is possible.
Lord,
I want to embrace your peace today. I choose peace over fear.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Jessica Fadal
8. Find Peace through Gratitude
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
Gratitude is an underused method toward peace. If you are struggling with any situation in your life, consider making a daily gratitude list. Every day write down ten things you are grateful for. There are so many blessings all around us. Even in the most difficult circumstances, we can find God at work.
If you have food on your table, shoes on your feet, a roof over your head, you are rich. If you know God, you are wealthy. We are so blessed. Sometimes we let life pull every bit of peace out from under our feet. It is time to take back your peace.
Lord,
Thank you for being my peace.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
While the holidays are busy and time is often moving faster than we can catch it, make time to find peace today. Choose one of the verses that spoke to you most and take your struggle to the Lord. Don’t settle for chaos. The holidays may never be perfectly peaceful, but they can be meaningful and memorable when we let Jesus be the focus of our hearts and minds.
No matter how complicated, complex, or dysfunctional the holidays might feel, remember peace is possible because of Jesus. Don’t let the enemy steal your joy, confidence, or peace this year. You can choose peace.
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