Seeking, Creating, Receiving and Sharing a Quiet Christmas.

But oh! God is in his holy Temple!
    Quiet everyone—a holy silence. Listen!

-Habakkuk 2:20 (MSG)

We live on this side of the birth, life and resurrection of Jesus. God the Son left his Kingdom to be Emmanuel—God with us. And believing and practicing the way of Jesus brings deeper meaning to the scripture above. Because He lived among us, we now live redeemed lives with His Spirit within us. Individually and collectively, we have become His holy temple.  (1 Cor 3:16).

It is rare to move through the Christmas season without being swept up in busyness and expectations. Those demands can easily chip away the gifts Advent brings—hope, joy, peace and love.

He went up on a mountainside by himself.

-Matthew 14:23 (NIV)

Jesus lovingly cared and ministered to the crowds, but He consistently withdrew to the hillsides to be alone with God. He shows us the way to strength, peace and calm that can only be found in silence.

In returning and rest, you will be saved.

In quietness and trust, you will find strength.

-Isaiah 30:15

Strength is not found in noise or hurry. It is found in the stillness and silence with God—not an empty silence, but a Presence in silence. In the quiet, Emmanuel is the source of the calm strength we need—especially in a season when we often feel anything but calm and strong.

The Struggle With Silence

People often tell me silence is hard. Sitting in quiet feels unproductive. “I should be doing more.” “I can’t turn off my mind” “I must be doing it wrong.”I’ve heard these many times and I’ve felt them myself.

We tend to see silence as empty time with little value.

But that’s not true.

God is everywhere.

Emmanuel — God with us.

He is present always, including in silence. Including when we sense nothing at all.

God is not absent in the quiet; He is present in it.

We can trust this. We can turn away from the Christmas hustle, let go of our self-reliance and sit beside Him—even imperfectly—knowing His presence does not leave us.

God is in His holy temple—that is you. He is inviting you to trust the still and quiet space.

Be still and know that I am God.

-Psalm 46:10

I believe parts of us desire some outward sign or visible proof of God working in our lives. Still, much of His transformation happens quietly within us. What would need to change in order to trust that subtle, steady work? To be still and know He is—fill in the blank.

Sometimes the greatest growth of faith is to be still and know that His unseen work is enough.

When we embody our faith through stillness, we can receive nourishment for our mind, body, nervous system and spirit. When our bodies slow down, our racing minds slow. This is by design.

I know for me: I want a Christmas spirit that is restful, joyful and generous. But those qualities don’t come from more doing, they come from more being.

So the next time you sit in silence, remember: you’re not alone. Even if it doesn’t feel productive or “successful,” God is there, filling the quiet with Himself.

Just as Jesus would often retreat to the mountainside, we too need our quiet places. Emmanuel’s presence can cut through the noise when we choose our secret place.

As you move through your Christmas preparations, consider:

Where can you make room for silence? What is your mountainside?

How Do We Participate in a Quiet Christmas?

1. Seek

Look for opportunities hidden in your habits. What can you say no to today in order to say yes to silence? Are there things you are already doing that you could incorporate silence? Maybe your walk with the dog could be podcast-free, a music-free drive to work, or cooking dinner without the news.

One new practice I’m trying is eating in silence when I’m not with my family-no phone, no laptop, no book. Just quiet nourishment.

2. Create

Be intentional. Start where you are. Jesus knows your life—He will be pleased with any deliberate attempts to rest beside Him.

If silence is new to you, begin with moments and grow toward minutes. Get creative and come up with ways you can practice silence in your ordinary, everyday routine.

Noise pollutes all our senses.  Reduce sensory noise: close your eyes, softly gaze at your Christmas tree lights, skip the perfume and scented candles, wear soft, comfortable material.

Practice yoga at home without an online recording. Pick your favorite poses and do those in silence.

3. Receive

A friend recently mentioned this phrase: radical acceptance. It got me thinking I need to radically and trustfully accept small moments of silence as strength-building—just like conditioning a muscle. It doesn’t change in one go. It takes practice, repetition and faith that God is quietly forming us even when we see no outward proof.

4. Share

Live from the overflow of the quiet blessing you receive. Christmas invites us to share hope, joy, peace and love with Emmanuel in us and among us.

At the end of this email, I’ve included a short 3-minute recording to begin. Push play. When my words end, simply remain and savor the silence.

Let’s reclaim a silent night this Christmas.