The Power of Rest in the Christmas Season: Healing from Spiritual Abuse

Rest is a weapon given to us by God. It’s the beginning of a quote I love that hangs on a blackboard in my home. The rest of the quote says, "The enemy hates it because he wants you stressed and occupied."

When you’ve experienced spiritual abuse, rest isn’t something that's offered to you. Rest is taken from you.

It can be taken in many ways: through chaos, overwork, constant difficulty, or relentless pain. Yet, rest is vital. God gives rest, and even tells us to rest.

For many in the Christian community, the weeks leading up to Christmas are focused on Advent— a season of waiting, of expectant longing for Christ. Advent is a time to prepare, to anticipate, and to wait with hope.

After experiencing spiritual abuse, it is crucial that we recognize the lies that have kept us bound in systems that don’t care for our well-being. These lies need to be exposed and replaced with healthy, truly biblical wisdom. We must reclaim rest. We must remember that God’s rest is not just a pause; it is a weapon against the lies and chaos that seek to rob us of peace.

This Advent season, let’s replace the noise and chaos that keeps us from rest with the practice of waiting on God. Resting in Him. In this quiet place, we can hear His whisper of love.

He loves you dearly.

Isaiah 30:15 says, “In returning and rest you shall be saved.”

The word for "return" in Hebrew holds profound meaning. It paints a picture of a battle raging, and the person, weary and worn, returning to their tent to find shelter.

Did you catch that? There’s a battle going on, yes. But God calls you to return to your place of rest, where you can find refuge and, ultimately, rescue.

So, this Christmas season—no matter what is happening around you, no matter how much chaos you’re carrying—return to your place of rest.

Rest in Him. It is here that you will find your peace.