Weekly Magazine | ‘Tis the Season for Peace
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Dear Friends,
’Tis the season… and yet many of us feel anything but peaceful. Between the decorating, the baking, the planning, and the weight of whatever we’re carrying privately, the pace of December can leave our souls feeling stretched thin. Instead of settling into the miracle of Christ’s coming, we can find ourselves simply trying to make it through.
That’s why, this week, we’re pausing together.
We hope that in this issue, you’ll find space to breathe again. Ginger McPherson invites us to rediscover the truth tucked inside two well-loved Christmas carols. Lisa Elliott offers twelve simple, grace-filled practices to help us experience God’s nearness in our everyday moments. Barbara Latta gently reminds us that Christ’s peace is strong enough to steady us in seasons of grief, pressure, and uncertainty. And as a special gift, Jill Briscoe shares a story that shows how God’s peace can soften even the hardest relationships.
Friend, the peace you long for isn’t something you have to manufacture. It’s the presence of Jesus Himself—Immanuel, God with us. As you read this week, may these reflections become a small oasis for your heart so that His peace can settle over you in a fresh and beautiful way.
Encouraging you in God’s truth,
‘Tis the Season: Reminders of Peace from Holiday Hymns | Ginger McPherson
When the holiday season starts to feel heavy, Ginger McPherson guides us back to the steady truths found in two beloved Christmas hymns. Through her personal reflection, she shows how God used familiar lines to quiet her heart—and reminds us that the longings and worries we carry can be entrusted to Jesus, the One who brings true and lasting peace.
Twelve Days of Practicing God’s Presence | Lisa Elliott
Lisa Elliott invites us to become more intentional about recognizing Emmanuel in our everyday moments. Using the structure of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” her gentle encouragement reminds us that Christ’s presence isn’t reserved for quiet mornings or perfect circumstances; it’s available to us minute by minute, right in the middle of real life.
Seeking the Gift of Peace This Season | Barbara Latta
When grief and stress threaten to overshadow joy, Barbara reminds us that peace is found in Christ alone. Through gratitude, prayer, and trust, she helps us reclaim calm even in life’s hardest seasons.
BONUS: Keeping the Peace at Christmas | Jill Briscoe
Jill shares a deeply personal story of learning to love when it wasn’t easy. Her testimony shows how God transforms our relationships — and our hearts — when we let His peace reign in our homes and holidays.
Also:
’Tis the Season for Peace
Reminders from Two Holiday Hymns.
By: Ginger McPherson
I rushed out of the grocery store with bags in hand, not looking where I was going. On my mind was my daughter’s holiday school performance that started in an hour and a lengthy to-do list that included a messy house to clean, Christmas gifts to buy, and a family gathering to plan and host. I didn’t even see the gentleman in front of me until I collided full force into his cart, sending apples, butter, and a stalk of celery flying.
Of course, I apologized profusely. I collected my things as quickly as I could, too. But it did no good. The glum look on his face remained a permanent fixture. Under his breath, he mumbled, “‘Tis the season.” Then he sullenly soldiered on.
I walked away, but the man’s comment stuck with me. ‘Tis the season. I’ve heard those words spoken many times during this Christmas season—not with feelings of hope or with that rosy eagerness for the coming holiday festivities. Rather, I’ve heard it said out of frustration as a kind of catchphrase for the busyness, overwhelm, and frenzy that Christmas can often bring.
December, after all, does have its share of added work. From decorating to baking to holiday events, we as women tend to feel the pressure to do it all. We find ourselves exhausted, usually at the expense of our own personal sense of peace. We forget that the “reason for the season” is peace—our Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. But even when we do remember, our realization that peace has taken a backseat only adds more guilt and pressure. Peace becomes one more thing we’re not getting done, an impossible goal we can’t quite reach.
If you find yourself feeling this way, too, I want to offer a little encouragement.
