3 Tips for Finding Hope, Joy and Peace This Christmas When It Feels Impossible To Do So Claim 5 free valuable gifts today plus enter to win free books!

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If you’re visiting my blog today from my Proverbs 31 devotion, When Your Christmas Spirit is Crushed, then welcome! To you and my blog subscribers – Merry Christmas!  As promised in the devotion, new and existing subscribers can download my free resource with tips for reigniting your holiday spirit by clicking here!

As I mentioned in today’s devotion, sometimes it just doesn’t feel like Christmas, especially when life has been hard – and my goodness, this year been hard for all of us!  So even though Christmas is supposed to be a time to focus on the joy, peace and hope found in the birth of Jesus, it might be seem really hard to have those feelings right now, if not impossible.

It can feel like a season of loneliness, sadness or regret for a variety of reasons. On top of the pandemic and all the other problems we’ve lived through this year, we all have our own set of personal adversities to face.

As a result, maybe God’s gifts of joy, hope and peace this Christmas seem like sparkly gifts just beyond our reach – we know they are there as scripture promises, and we really want to open them, but……… we dream about how beautiful they are, but …….. we long for true peace that surpasses our understanding and yearn for comfort and release from worry, but…….  no matter how hard we try, we just can’t seem to get our hands around them. Is it really possible to do so this year?

The Bible answers this question with a resounding unconditional yes, despite what we might be going through this  season, if we do three  simple things to help us put this crazy life we’re in right now, and our faith, back in perspective.

First, think about your past – or even just 2020. I bet lots of good and bad memories come immediately to mind, and maybe regrets from years ago try  to resurface as well. Yet I feel confident that God has done some amazing things, in your past and even in this past year. Have you taken time to intentionally remember those things? All those special times when God did something huge in your life, granted you unexpected blessings, provided for you in special ways that could have only been orchestrated by Him, or gave you the strength to get through a really difficult situation?  Remember the big and small blessings and find hope and peace in those sweet memories. Spending time reminiscing about what God has done in the past helps us unwrap a little fresh hope in the present.

Secondly, think about the present. Maybe the present is great right now, maybe it is not. I imagine, just like in my own life, this year has brought on new problems, losses and worries you never saw coming and none of us can escape the chaos going on around us. But in any case, we can choose to look for the positives or allow ourselves to sink in the negatives.  We can choose to focus on the blessings we do have,  rather than only the things that may have been taken away. Optimism is always a game changer.

Thirdly, think about the future. Ugg, I know. It is so unknown right now. Each of our hearts are probably filled with anxiety, making it even more important to open the gift of peace, joy and hope this season. We may not know what the future holds, but God does, and despite all the craziness, He is still on the throne.

In the middle of a crisis, a hard circumstance, a pandemic or any trying season of life, we can reach up and unwrap the gifts God freely offers – those  precious gifts birthed in a manger – not only at Christmas but all year long, because although life continually changes, Jesus and His love for us never does.

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7 Comments

  1. nancy cuppy on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 6:38 am

    I am so grateful that I found your website…thank you so much for the scripture, story and words this morning when I read your article. I hate to admit , but I was starting to feel overwhelmed and tired and not wanting to tackle my list today….after reading your words I now have that spring in my step. Thank you so much!



    • Tracie on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      Glad to have you here, Nancy! Thank you and Merry Christmas!



  2. Nancy Jones on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 10:16 am

    Would you please give me permission to use some of your writing in a Christmas letter to our senior adults in our church. I will acknowledge you as the author. There were parts of this that I feel would touch them so much.



    • Tracie on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 3:29 pm

      Permission granted! Thank you for sharing Nancy!



  3. Michelle Barringer on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 10:46 am

    Thank you, Tracie! I’ve been feeling weary this week and after turning in two written assignments for a couple of projects, this morning so expected to feel lighter. Nope. Still tired and heavy burdened. Still, God showed up and reminded me of all He gives. And then He reminded me He can and will carry my weight. So thank you for continuing to speak His truth to me. I have been blessed beyond measure this year. Jesus is alive! He still gives gifts. And He loves to bless us. You, my new friend, are a huge blessing to me. Thank you.



    • Tracie on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      Thank you Michelle! You are a blessing as well! Merry Christmas!



  4. Michelle on Monday, February 1, 2021 at 6:43 am

    Tracie, your devotion today on divorce and grieving is how I feel even though I’m still married. My husband is sick and it’s more of I’ve become his caretaker than a wife. I grieve the loss of affection or anything from him.. it’s definitely not an easy road… Thanks



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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries.  She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.

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