In this episode of Thrive Through the Fire, I talk about something many of us quietly struggle with but often feel uncomfortable admitting. The holidays can be hard. They are hard even when everything in life is good, and they can feel especially heavy when we are walking through something difficult. As a mom of four, I feel the pressure every year to make the season magical, to give my family memories and experiences, and to hold it all together. Yet there have been years when I showed up to holiday gatherings carrying pain, exhaustion, or discouragement, and I did not want to feel like a burden or a bummer to everyone around me.

In this episode, I share my own story of what it feels like to go through something challenging during the holidays and how isolating it can be. I open up about what it is like to be in a room full of people who seem joyful when inside you feel broken or overwhelmed. I talk about how it affects you personally and how it affects the people around you who do not always know what to say or how to support you.

I also explore several stories from Scripture about people who wrestled with heavy emotions while the world around them was celebrating. Hannah is one of those people. Every year she traveled with her family to what was essentially a joyful holiday celebration, yet she carried deep grief and disappointment. While others were celebrating, she was weeping bitterly before God, and He met her right there.

I also talk about David, a man who felt deeply and honestly. His writings in the Psalms are full of emotional ups and downs that mirror the emotional whiplash so many of us experience during the holidays. One moment he was full of praise and the next he was overwhelmed with fear or sadness. His honesty reminds me that I do not have to hide my feelings from God.

I share about Elijah who reached a point of emotional and physical exhaustion after a major victory. He told God he had nothing left to give. Instead of correcting him, God sent rest, nourishment, and comfort. Elijah’s story mirrors exactly what many of us feel when we are burnt out or depleted during the holiday season.

I also reflect on Jesus who understood emotion better than anyone. He experienced grief, exhaustion, pressure, and sorrow. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept even though He knew resurrection was coming. He shows me that God does not rush my healing. He sits with me in my sorrow before He leads me toward joy.

These biblical stories remind me that the people in Scripture were not spiritual superheroes. They were people who felt the full weight of human emotion, just like we do. Their lives show me that God always meets us where we are, including during the messy, complicated, emotional moments we experience around the holidays.

I offer practical advice in this episode for anyone navigating a hard season. I share how to set gentle expectations for yourself, how to make space for rest, how to communicate your needs, and how to hold room for both joy and sorrow at the same time. I also talk about the importance of having a small support system who can walk with you through the season without judgment or pressure.

My prayer is that this episode helps you feel seen and understood. If the holidays feel heavy for you, you are not alone. God is not offended by your sadness or overwhelmed by your emotions. He draws near to the brokenhearted and He promises to give rest to the weary. You do not have to pretend. You do not have to perform. You can show up exactly as you are, and God will meet you there.

Take a breath. Slow down. Let yourself feel what you feel. And trust that God is with you in every part of this season.