When your December calendar is packed and your soul feels strangely quiet, Jesus invites you to slow down, listen, and actually live like a human again.

Why does disappointing other people feel scarier than disappointing our own bodies and souls—especially in December? In a season meant for waiting on Jesus, many of us are exhausted from saying yes to everything and everyone, unsure how to rest without feeling selfish.

Key Takeaways

· When your “yes” is driven by perception, FOMO, or people-pleasing, your soul can go quiet even while your calendar is full.

· We often overvalue working, hustling, and “showing up,” while quietly celebrating one another for breaking the fourth commandment—ignoring Sabbath.

· Sabbath simply means “stop”: stop striving, stop controlling, and remember you’re a beloved child of God before you accomplish anything.

· Paying attention to energy, not just time, helps you notice what drains you and what fills you, and to plan December with both in view.

· You can be honest with God at the party you didn’t want to attend—asking Him to help you love others and also know when it’s time to leave.

· Rest isn’t selfish: it’s the rhythm that lets you show up to friends, family, and church with a present, awake, joy-filled soul.

Action Steps / Practical Applications

✅ Block a Sabbath stop in your week. Choose a concrete window (even 2–3 hours) to stop working, striving, and organizing—light a candle, take a slow walk, eat a simple meal, and let your soul “catch up” to your body.

✅ Color-code your December week. Mark life-giving events and draining obligations in different colors so you can see where you’ll be empty—and where you’ll be refilled—and adjust before you burn out.

✅ Pray before you RSVP. Ask, “Lord, is this a yes of love or a yes of fear?” If it’s fear-driven, consider a smaller yes—like showing up for 20 minutes—or a gentle, honest no.

✅ Ground yourself in your body. When you feel scattered, pause and notice your senses—the feel of the air, your breathing, your feet on the floor—as a way of letting your soul become loud and present again.

✅ Find an Advent accountability partner. Share your plan to pause, pray, and protect with a friend and give them permission to check in when your “yes” is starting to outrun your soul.