Entering December Slowly: Choosing Peace at the Start of a Busy Month

December has a way of arriving loudly. Suddenly, the calendar fills up, expectations rise, and the pace of life speeds up before we even realize it. For moms especially, this month can feel like a marathon that starts without warning.

This year, I’m trying something different. I’m choosing to enter December slowly.

Not because life is calm. Not because postpartum is easy. Not because there isn’t a lot that needs to be done. But because my heart needs space before the busyness takes over.

The Pressure to Do It All

There’s such a temptation to believe that December has to look a certain way. Perfect traditions. Meaningful moments. Thoughtful gifts. Full schedules. Clean homes. Festive meals.

But somewhere along the way, we forget that God never asked us to carry all of that. When the month becomes more about performance than presence, our peace is often the first thing to disappear.

I feel that tension deeply, especially in this postpartum season. Some days I’m still healing. Some days my energy is limited. Some days the simplest tasks feel heavy. And that has forced me to slow down whether I wanted to or not.

And honestly, it has been a gift.

Stillness Before the Busy

This verse keeps coming back to me as December begins:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10 (ESV)


Stillness is not passive. It’s an active choice to trust God with what’s ahead. It’s saying, “I don’t need to rush. You are already here.”

Before the parties, the shopping, the cooking, and the noise, I want to anchor my heart in that truth. God is God whether December is full or quiet. He does not move faster because the calendar changes. He invites us to slow down and meet Him where we are.

A Gentle Start for a Meaningful Month

December is one of the busiest months, but it is also one of the most meaningful. It’s a celebration of hope entering the world in the most humble way. A Savior born quietly. A story that began in stillness, not spectacle.

As we enter this month, my prayer is simple.

That I would notice Him more than I notice the pressure.
That my children would remember peace more than perfection.
That my home would feel warm, even if it isn’t spotless.
That my heart would stay soft, even on the hard days.

This month doesn’t have to be rushed to be rich. It doesn’t have to be full to be holy.

An Invitation for You

If December already feels overwhelming, take this as permission to slow down. You don’t need to do this month perfectly for it to be meaningful. God meets you in the quiet moments just as much as the celebrations.

Let December begin with peace. Let it begin with grace. Let it begin with stillness.