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December 24, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n Unwrapping His Christmas Presence<\/strong><\/span> Lee en espa\u00f1ol<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means \u2018God is with us\u2019).\u201d Isaiah 7:14 (NLT)<\/em><\/p>\n Plans for the perfect Christmas danced in my head. Almost everyone from both sides of the family would be coming to our house. We\u2019d never hosted a Christmas dinner, and I was looking forward to it.<\/p>\n But somewhere in the midst of all the preparations, I got tangled up in Christmas lights and unrealistic expectations. By the time people arrived, I couldn\u2019t wait for them to leave.<\/p>\n It all started when my husband, JJ, and my sons petitioned for blinking colored lights on the tree. \u201cWe don\u2019t do colored lights on the tree. I am a white-lights kind of girl,\u201d I insisted. At that point, the control freak in me was already freaking out a little, and tension continued to build.<\/p>\n I\u2019d dreamed of having the perfect house, perfect menu, and perfect table settings. But hope was dashed the night before guests arrived when I couldn\u2019t find festive cloth napkins and realized I didn’t have a baking pan large enough to cook a turkey.<\/p>\n When Christmas came, I had a house full of people but an oh-so-empty heart.<\/p>\n As I walked through my living room picking up wrapping paper, I wondered why my dreams of the \u201cperfect Christmas\u201d hadn\u2019t come true. Many of the elements seemed to be in place, but something was missing.<\/p>\n Trying to escape the holiday noise, I went upstairs to my bedroom. Taking a deep breath, I opened my Bible to read the Christmas story in Luke 2. Slowly, I let each word remind me of that first Christmas night and God’s promise that came true in Bethlehem when Mary \u201cgave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger\u201d<\/em> (Luke 2:7, NLT).<\/p>\n A cross-reference led me to Isaiah 7:14: \u201cThe virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means \u2018God is with us\u2019).\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Closing my eyes, I pictured Mary wrapping baby Jesus. Her hands carefully folding each corner of the cloth like a precious gift. That’s when I realized what I’d been missing. In the hustle and bustle of creating the perfect Christmas, I’d neglected to unwrap the most important gift of all: Immanuel, God with us.<\/em><\/p>\n Bowing my head, I opened my hands and my heart to God\u2019s presence. I invited Jesus to bring calm to my anxious heart. To bring His perspective to my expectations and to help me enjoy the gift of my family waiting downstairs. That simple prayer brought peace to my heart unlike anything white lights or a perfect holiday setting could ever bestow.<\/p>\n It ended up being the perfect Christmas after all.<\/p>\n Dear Lord, no matter how busy this season is or how lonely I feel this Christmas, I want to unwrap and experience the gift of Your presence. Help me see You, hear Your voice whisper to my heart, and listen when You lead me with Your peace and perspective. Above all, I seek Your heart and Your purpose in all of my plans. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n Maybe you\u2019re entering this Christmas feeling like you barely survived this year, especially because of unexpected turns or unwanted circumstances you faced. It\u2019s easy to put yourself on the back burner while navigating whatever life threw at you. Friend, if you need a boost of hope today, this Therapy & Theology<\/em> episode, featuring Lysa TerKeurst, is just for you: \u201cTools To Fight Anxiety and Better Your Mental Health.\u201d Watch on YouTube and be encouraged!<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to draw closer to Jesus and unwrap the gift of His presence and peace, here\u2019s a calming Christmas prayer from Renee.<\/p>\n Join Renee on Instagram for ongoing encouragement, both after Christmas and throughout the year.<\/p>\n Isaiah 26:12, \u201cLORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us\u201d (NIV).<\/p>\n John 14:27, \u201cPeace I leave with 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\u201d (NIV).<\/p>\n What might be most challenging for you in the next few days? When can you find some time to soak in Jesus\u2019 perspective and peace? We\u2019d love to hear from you in the comments.<\/p>\n \u00a9 2025 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n Photo credit: \u00a9GettyImages\/Bogdan Kurylo<\/span><\/p>\n Proverbs 31 Ministries
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