Christmas is just around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you might feel the pull of the season’s busy demands. The calendar fills up, the to-do lists grow, and somewhere in all of it, we can miss the beauty of what this season is really about. That’s why I’d like to invite you to something different this year: an unhurried Christmas.
During the coming weeks, would you be willing to slow down to enjoy the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love—not just as ideas, but as truths?
Hope = Do you remember the long silence between the Old and New Testaments? God’s people had been waiting—400 years of silence, wondering if His promises still held. And then, in the stillness of the night, the angel’s announcement shattered the darkness: “A Savior has been born to you!” (Luke 2:11). The hope of the world had arrived.
When we rush through Christmas, we miss the beauty of hope fulfilled. Slowing down lets us notice the ways God is still faithful to His promises in our lives. What are you hoping for this Christmas? Take time to sit with that question, and let the story of Jesus’ birth remind you that God doesn’t forget His people.
Peace = The angels sang of it: “Peace on earth, goodwill to men” (Luke 2:14). But if we’re honest, peace can feel like the first thing to go when our schedules get chaotic. Yet the Prince of Peace didn’t come into a serene, tidy world—He entered our mess to calm the storms of our hearts.
When we slow down, we create space to experience that peace—not just a fleeting calm but a deep sense of wholeness that only Jesus can bring. Maybe this year, peace looks like saying no to something so you can say yes to what matters most.
Joy = The shepherds in the field were just going about their normal routine when everything changed. Imagine their wonder when the sky filled with angels proclaiming, “I bring you good news of great joy...” (Luke 2:10).. Their joy wasn’t found in their circumstances—it was found in their Savior.
Joy often sneaks up on us when we least expect it, but we have to slow down enough to notice. This Christmas, let’s pause to celebrate the ordinary moments where God’s goodness shines through—whether that’s laughter around the dinner table or a quiet moment by the tree.
Love
The heart of Christmas is love: God so loved the world that He sent His Son (John 3:16). This love took on flesh, entered our brokenness, and gave us what we could never earn on our own. Mary’s song captures it beautifully: “He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy” (Luke 1:54).
Slowing down helps us receive this love. It also creates room to share it with others. Who in your life needs a tangible reminder of God’s love this Christmas? Maybe it’s a neighbor, a friend, or even your own family.
I know it’s hard to resist the pull of a hurried holiday. But my prayer for you (and for me) is that we wouldn’t miss the deeper gifts God has for us this season. Let’s embrace an unhurried Christmas together, holding onto the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus came to give.
peace,
Nick
During the coming weeks, would you be willing to slow down to enjoy the gifts of hope, peace, joy, and love—not just as ideas, but as truths?
Hope = Do you remember the long silence between the Old and New Testaments? God’s people had been waiting—400 years of silence, wondering if His promises still held. And then, in the stillness of the night, the angel’s announcement shattered the darkness: “A Savior has been born to you!” (Luke 2:11). The hope of the world had arrived.
When we rush through Christmas, we miss the beauty of hope fulfilled. Slowing down lets us notice the ways God is still faithful to His promises in our lives. What are you hoping for this Christmas? Take time to sit with that question, and let the story of Jesus’ birth remind you that God doesn’t forget His people.
Peace = The angels sang of it: “Peace on earth, goodwill to men” (Luke 2:14). But if we’re honest, peace can feel like the first thing to go when our schedules get chaotic. Yet the Prince of Peace didn’t come into a serene, tidy world—He entered our mess to calm the storms of our hearts.
When we slow down, we create space to experience that peace—not just a fleeting calm but a deep sense of wholeness that only Jesus can bring. Maybe this year, peace looks like saying no to something so you can say yes to what matters most.
Joy = The shepherds in the field were just going about their normal routine when everything changed. Imagine their wonder when the sky filled with angels proclaiming, “I bring you good news of great joy...” (Luke 2:10).. Their joy wasn’t found in their circumstances—it was found in their Savior.
Joy often sneaks up on us when we least expect it, but we have to slow down enough to notice. This Christmas, let’s pause to celebrate the ordinary moments where God’s goodness shines through—whether that’s laughter around the dinner table or a quiet moment by the tree.
Love
The heart of Christmas is love: God so loved the world that He sent His Son (John 3:16). This love took on flesh, entered our brokenness, and gave us what we could never earn on our own. Mary’s song captures it beautifully: “He has helped His servant Israel, remembering His mercy” (Luke 1:54).
Slowing down helps us receive this love. It also creates room to share it with others. Who in your life needs a tangible reminder of God’s love this Christmas? Maybe it’s a neighbor, a friend, or even your own family.
I know it’s hard to resist the pull of a hurried holiday. But my prayer for you (and for me) is that we wouldn’t miss the deeper gifts God has for us this season. Let’s embrace an unhurried Christmas together, holding onto the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus came to give.
peace,
Nick