The holiday season often carries a tension between joy and heaviness. While we celebrate the birth of Christ with wonder, expectations, busyness, grief, and change can steal our peace. In John 14:27, Jesus reminds His disciples that true peace doesn’t come from a perfectly executed holiday or a trouble-free life—it comes from Him alone. When our hearts feel overwhelmed by demands or sadness, we are invited to return to the Prince of Peace and receive the rich, lasting calm only He can give. This season, peace becomes possible not by doing more, but by turning our focus back to Jesus, who is always with us.
Main Takeaways
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You’ll learn why the holiday season can feel both joy-filled and burdensome—and how Christ meets us in both.
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Discover how Jesus’ promise in John 14:27 offers a peace deeper than anything the world can provide.
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Understand how hurry, expectations, and grief can steal peace—and how to reclaim it through Christ.
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Gain practical ways to plan for peace this season through rest, margin, and time in God’s presence.
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Reflect on how focusing more on Jesus than on holiday pressures brings renewed joy and spiritual grounding.
Bible Verse References
Your Daily Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace, and I long to experience Your presence in a deeper way this season. When the holidays feel heavy, rushed, or overwhelming, quiet my spirit and calm my fears. Remind me that true peace does not come from accomplishing more, but from resting in You. Help me release the expectations I carry and receive the peace You freely give. Let Your presence steady my heart and fill my days with renewed joy as I celebrate Your birth.
Amen.
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Relevant Links & Resources
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Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes by Keri Eichberger
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Scripture study resources: BibleStudyTools.com – https://www.biblestudytools.com/john/14-27.html
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Faith and spiritual growth content:
Crosswalk.com – https://www.crossw
Episode Transcript
Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your Daily Prayer,
a podcast dedicated to helping you find the words you
need to connect with your Father in Heaven. No matter
what is going on in your life today, you can
(00:24):
trust that God wants to hear from you. Right after
this short word from our sponsor, people pray through today's
prayer for peace when Holidays feel heavy Together. A Prayer
(00:53):
for Peace when Holidays Feel Heavy written and read by
Kerrie Eichberger. Peace. I leave with you my peace I
give you. I do not give to us the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not
be afraid. John fourteen, verse twenty seven. There's always a
(01:16):
heartwarming anticipation I feel as the final few months of
each year approach. But that sense is sadly and suddenly
met with a hard and heavy hit. Though there is
much joy, the holiday's season brings on so much else
that steals my peace. Strong suggestions and loaded expectations, to
(01:38):
shot myself silly, to serve and give bigger and bolder,
to decorate sooner and more extravagantly, to follow every long
lasting tradition and then some, all while keeping the joy,
the peace, and most definitely Jesus at the center of
it all. It's a lot not to mention the pain
(01:58):
of what's changed should been lost, like the people no
longer present that once made this special time of year
even more special. I want to embrace every bit of
what the season brings, but I have a hard time
soaking in its peace and joy with all the demands, expectations,
and even hurt that sometimes encircle the season. Do you
(02:22):
sense any heaviness of the holiday season, feeling like there
are countless tasks he should or want to tackle? Like
you want it to sparkle with the joy and magic
it should as you celebrate the birth of the Savior,
But the hope of keeping the pace and peace sometimes
seems impossible. I get this, but we still long for
(02:44):
peace to fill the season. We know without it there
wouldn't be much joy, and there should be great joy.
We are celebrating the most joy filled news the rule
has ever known. The Son of God was sent down
to save us and stay with us forever. I think
we all agree that not only is this the most
(03:05):
joyous of occasions, but we also deeply desire to make
it just that. And if we can keep the peace.
Amid the hustle and heaviness, we could better keep our
eyes on him and sustain and swell some more wonder, awe,
and joy. Whether it's the burden of the bustling season
(03:25):
or the sadness of sorrow it brings. Heaviness and hurry
can steal our peace at any given time. But it's
those times we must remember who our peace actually is
and where it comes from. It's Jesus. It is Jesus
who said to his disciples before his death, peace, I
(03:46):
leave you my peace. I give you I do not
give to you as the world gives. Do not let
your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. This
offer of peace was also for you and me, And
still today he left us his peace. He gave us
his peace, and it is not as the world gives it. No,
(04:09):
it's better. It's rich and real and lasting, and in
him is where we can still find it. Despite the
demands and draws of the world, despite the expectations of
this season to do this and that and more and more,
don't forget to pause and soak in his peace. Don't
(04:31):
forget what matters most, allowing your heart to celebrate him
for him and with him. Our peace is in Jesus,
and Jesus is always with us. The holidays can be heavy,
but we don't need to let our hearts be troubled
or to be afraid of what may come of this
(04:51):
time or any because Jesus is always available to us
and always with us. Thus his peace is always with us.
We just need to place our focus more on him
in order to receive it. Instead of fixating on completing
our Christmas shopping, making more perfect memories, pursuing every past tradition,
(05:13):
or on our disappointment of what isn't as we wish
it were, we should focus our hearts each day on
communing with and celebrating Jesus. So as you consider the
holiday plans, before you plan for more peace, take something
unnecessary off your list, place more margin in your calendar,
(05:34):
and prioritize extra time in God's presence each morning. Release
all the expectations of people, receive and lean into the
calls to simply sit still with your savior, your friend,
the Lord of peace himself, Jesus, and then linger with
him as he lifts and enlightens the heaviness of the
(05:57):
holidays and replaces it is precious and permeating peace. Let's pray,
Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of peace, and I
long to refresh my awe of your birth in this season.
If I'm being honest, there is some happiness that hovers
(06:17):
over the holidays. I feel the way when I can't
mean expectations, when I struggle with what I wish were different,
and when the world tells me to do more and
move faster, but the world does not provide the peace
my soul longs for. Only you can do that. Lord,
help my heart know not to be troubled or afraid. Rather,
(06:41):
may I receive you and let your peaceful presence reign
and rule my entire soul. I praise you and celebrate
you in this blessed season in your glorious name. Amen.
If you liked what you heard, I think you love
My latest book, When over Worry, Conquer what shakes you,
(07:05):
and Soar with the One who overcomes You can find
it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I
hope it blesses you. Your Daily Prayer is a production
(07:26):
of Life Audio and Sale Media. For more faith filled
inspirational podcasts, visit us at lifeaudio dot com. While you're there,
sign up for our daily email. When you do, you'll
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