When I Stopped Pretending I Had It Together

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you. Psalm 55:22

The Christmas season has a way of sneaking up on me. Suddenly the calendar fills, gatherings to host, meals to plan, gifts to buy, traditions to keep alive. There’s joy in it, truly. But somewhere between decorating, coordinating schedules, and trying to make everything feel meaningful, I slipped into the familiar role of holding it all together. I have been carrying the mental lists, the emotional weight, the responsibility of making sure everyone felt welcomed and cared for. I told myself this was just part of the season. Part of being capable, part of loving people well. I assumed that keeping it all together was just part of celebrating Christmas and carried the weight without question. The weight built quietly.

Each decision, each expectation, each unspoken pressure stacked on top of the last. I moved through the days checking things off, smiling through it, telling myself I could rest later, after Christmas, after hosting, after everything was done. I just didn’t realize how tightly I was holding onto the burden instead of releasing it. Then, in the middle of all the preparing and planning, someone in my family noticed. She reached out with a gentle voice, checking in and offering to help with whatever I needed. A genuine, calm offer, one that stopped me in my tracks. And before I could default to “It’s okay, I’ve got it,” something in me softened. I began to unload, tears flowing, and with each word, the heaviness I’d carried alone started to ease. As I talked, I realized how much I had been carrying without even knowing it. That was the moment it hit me; I wasn’t just busy. I was weary.

Scripture says, Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 I had always focused on being the one who helped others. I hadn’t realized that letting someone help me was part of that calling too. There was something sacred about that moment. In the middle of the Christmas season, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savor, I saw Him show up through family. Matthew 11:28, read, Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Let me just tell you, that "REST" didn’t come from a perfectly hosted gathering or a flawless plan. It came when I stopped pretending and let myself be honest.

This season of life has shown me that keeping it all under control can actually get in the way of peace and trust. I’m discovering that strength isn’t measured by how much I can juggle, but by how willing I am to surrender and accept help. Sometimes faith means letting go. Sometimes it means accepting help. And sometimes, right in the middle of hosting and the beautiful chaos of the season, it means admitting the weight is heavier than we realized and trusting that we were never meant to carry it alone. I am deeply grateful for the phone call I received this morning. That simple act of reaching out changed everything, and I’m so thankful that God moves through the hearts of our loved ones to meet us in our moments of need.

In a nutshell, I was carrying weight I didn’t even realize. I want to offer encouragement to you, my sisters: take time for daily "check-ins" with yourself. Be intentional about taking emotional and spiritual inventory, notice what you’re holding, what you need, and where God might be calling you to release some of that weight. This season, as we rush through decorating, hosting, gifting, and celebrating, it’s easy to forget that we don’t have to do it all alone. God often meets us in the quiet ways, through a phone call, a helping hand, a kind word from family or friends. These small acts are reminders that we were never meant to carry everything by ourselves.

So,

guess what...it's Christmas, give yourself permission to pause. Let someone step in. Let God take the burdens you’ve been carrying. And remember, taking care of your heart, your spirit, and your well-being is not just okay, it’s necessary. Because in the end, the gift of rest, support, and grace is far more meaningful than perfection.

I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment in the section below:

Love you ♥God Bless♥

Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for meeting us in our moments of overwhelm. Help us to release the weight we’ve been carrying alone and to receive the help You place in our lives through family and friends. Grant us rest for our hearts, clarity for our minds, and peace in our spirits. Remind us that we were never meant to do it all alone, and that Your grace is enough. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.