When the Holidays Feel Heavy

The holiday season can magnify both joy and sorrow. In tonight's prayer and devotional, we reflect on the fact that for those walking through grief, loss, or loneliness, the glittering lights and festive gatherings can sometimes make the ache feel sharper. Chelsea Ohlemiller reflects honestly on this tension — the heaviness that can accompany holidays when someone you love is no longer there. Since the loss of her mother, the holidays have carried a different weight. The decorations she hauls from the basement feel as heavy as her grief. Though she once masked her pain behind smiles and songs, she discovered that pretending to be “fine” only deepened her isolation. Her turning point came when she stopped performing and started praying. In the quiet moments surrounded by half-unpacked boxes of decorations, she surrendered her pain to God. Instead of forcing cheer, she brought her heartbreak to the One who had already invited her to do so: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) In that sacred space of honesty, Chelsea found peace — not by escaping the heaviness, but by inviting Jesus into it. His rest didn’t erase her grief, but it transformed her heart from performance to presence, from pretending to peace. This Advent and Christmas season, remember: God does not require you to perform. He simply asks you to come. When joy feels hard to find, He offers Himself as the ultimate source of comfort and rest. Tonight's Scripture: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28 MAIN TAKEAWAYS The holidays can amplify grief and loneliness, even amid celebration. God doesn’t ask us to perform joy — He invites us to bring our burdens to Him. True peace is found in honesty and prayer, not in pretending everything is okay. Jesus offers rest to the weary and comfort to the brokenhearted. Letting go of expectations — from others and ourselves — creates space for God’s healing presence. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Matthew 11:28 Psalm 34:18 John 14:27 Isaiah 26:3 1 Peter 5:7 YOUR EVENING PRAYER Lord,When the holidays feel heavy and joy seems far away, remind me that I don’t need to perform for others. You see my heart — weary, burdened, and longing for peace. Help me release the expectations I place on myself and the ones others place on me. Let me rest in Your promises and find comfort in Your presence. Remind me that even when my pain feels invisible, You notice it, You carry it, and You offer me rest.In Jesus’ name, Amen. THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON Choose rest over obligation.Look at your calendar this week and find one moment to pause instead of perform. Replace performance with prayer.When stress rises or grief feels overwhelming, pause to pray instead of pushing through. Release unrealistic expectations.Write down the pressures — from yourself or others — that you can let go of this season. Ask God to replace them with peace. CALL TO ACTION Subscribe to Your Nightly Prayer for nightly encouragement and reminders of God’s peace. Visit LifeAudio.com for devotionals, podcasts, and reflections that offer comfort in every season. Share this prayer with someone navigating grief or weariness this holiday season — remind them that rest and hope are still possible. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.