When the Holidays Are Hard

A 9-Day Email Series on Biblical Wisdom for Navigating Relationships in This Season

When the Holidays are Hard

a 9-day email series on biblical wisdom for navigating relationships in this season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year... or is it? For you, it may be more accurate to say this time of year feels more dreadful and dark than merry and bright. More crazy than cozy. And you’re not alone. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas are usually portrayed with perfectly set table tops, mouth-watering side dishes, pretty little packages, and smiles all around. You don’t often see the social media influencer posting about the argument at their family gathering. Catalogs don’t show us the girls who actually read them, wishing they could look like the models on the pages. Ads for our favorite brands aren’t trying to appeal to the woman mourning the loss of a loved one. Yet these realities are all too familiar for many of us during the holiday season.

When the Holidays Are Hard will acknowledge some of the challenges we face in our relationships with others during this time of year. Over these next nine days, you will receive a short, topical study containing practical, biblical wisdom from writers we love. Whether you feel weighed down by the stressful expectations of hosting and gifting, apprehensive about seeing certain family members, worried about what the gossip will be at the table this year, or just simply alone, I hope something in this series will hold your hand as you walk into the weary days ahead. 

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Table of Contents

Introduction — Malory Smith
When the Holidays Are Hard

Day One — Alicia Hamilton
The Holiday Tradition of Gossip

Day Two — Kelly O’Donohoe
The Art of Restful Giving and Receiving 

Day Three — Hannah Jessen Conway
Holy Boundaries in the Hustle and Bustle 

Day Four — Kayla Carthel
Feeling Isolated During the Holidays 

Day Five — Amanda Devlin
A Survival Guide for Controversy at Christmas

Day Six — Candace Echols
The Hospitality of Jesus and HGTV

Day Seven — Leah Jolly
Walking with the Grieving This Holiday Season

Day Eight — Ela Alvarado
Celebration over Comparison

Day Nine — Lauren Bowerman
How Christ’s Love Compels Us to Love When It’s Hard

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Meet the Writers

This devotional series features trusted writers from our WHEN blog, a free resource by Hosanna Revival that brings life’s wild and weighty questions into the light of Scripture. We have seen these authors write for WHEN with both grace and truth, navigating difficult topics with care. We pray their contributions to this series will offer the same kind of practical insight and encouragement to meet you wherever you find yourself this season. 

Day One

Alicia Hamilton

Read her WHEN Articles

Day Two

Kelly O'Donohoe

Read her WHEN Articles

Day Three

Hannah Jessen Conway

Read her WHEN Articles

Day Four

Kayla Carthel

Read her WHEN Articles

Day Five

Amanda Devlin

Read her WHEN Article

Day Six

Candace Echols

Read her WHEN Articles

Day Seven

Leah Jolly

Read her WHEN Articles

Day Eight

Ela Alvarado

Read her WHEN Articles

Day Nine

Lauren Bowerman

Read her WHEN Articles

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