When the Holidays Hurt
Friend, if the holidays feel heavy this year, you are not alone. December can hold so much beauty, but it can also stir up some of the hardest emotions our hearts carry. While the world tells us to smile, celebrate, and make everything merry and bright, sometimes our souls are quietly grieving.
Maybe you are missing someone you love.
Maybe a relationship changed this year and nothing feels the same.
Maybe this is the first Christmas without a parent, a child, a friend, or a familiar tradition.
Or maybe everything looks fine on the outside, but inside you feel tender, worn, or unsure how to move through a season that is supposed to be joyful.
The truth is, Christmas can feel complicated. It holds light and darkness, joy and sorrow, memories and questions all at the same time. And that is okay.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Notice what it does not say.
It does not tell us to pretend we are okay.
It does not tell us to “cheer up.”
It does not tell us to hide our emotions behind Christmas smiles.
It simply promises closeness.
Right here. Right in the middle of the ache.
God does not wait for us to get it together before He draws near.
He meets us inside the tears, the memories, and the longings.
Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”
That is Christmas.
Not glitter and tinsel and perfectly wrapped gifts.
Light entering darkness.
Hope entering brokenness.
Jesus entering the very places we cannot fix on our own.
He came because pain exists.
He came because grief is real.
He came because this world is not the home our hearts were made for.
You do not have to hide your heaviness from Him this season. He sees it all and stays close.
Gentle Ways to Honor Grief This Christmas
There is no right way to move through the holidays when your heart is hurting. But here are a few soft invitations if you need them:
Light a candle for someone you miss and whisper a prayer of thanks for their life.
Write a letter to God about what hurts and what you hope for.
Set aside one quiet night to sit with memories, not to fix them but to honor them.
Ask one trusted friend to check in this month and give you space to be honest.
Let yourself feel multiple emotions at once. Joy and sorrow can live together. That is not failure. That is being human.
If you need to cry during a Christmas song.
If you need to say no to traditions this year.
If you need to rest when everyone else is busy.
If you need to simplify and let go of the pressure to make everything magical…
That is okay.
You are not failing anyone.
Grief is a journey, not a disruption to Christmas. Sometimes it is the reminder of why we need Christmas in the first place.
Jesus came for broken hearts, not perfect holiday moments.
A Free Gift for You
If your heart needs a soft place to land this December, I created something just for this moment.
It is called When the Holdiays Hurt, and it is a simple five day devotional designed to help you:
Process grief with honesty
Sit with comforting Scripture
Remember God’s faithfulness
Find gentle peace through Jesus
You can download it for free here:
When the Holidays Hurt
Let it be a companion for your heart this season.
Let’s Talk
What is one way you are choosing to give your heart extra grace this Christmas season?
As always, you can reach out to me. I would love to hear from you and walk through this season alongside you. You can email me anytime at [email protected].
P.S. If you missed last week’s post on simple, faith filled Christmas traditions, you can read it here: Meaning Over Magic