When the rush of Christmas leaves your heart feeling thin, Isaiah 9:6 offers the anchor every soul is truly craving. Beneath the wrapping paper, busy schedules, and pressure to “get it all right,” there’s a deeper longing—one only the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace can satisfy. Our hearts were never designed to be filled by productivity, perfection, or presents; they were made to be filled by Him.

Highlights


Cultural pressure can turn Christmas into a checklist instead of a celebration.


Many feel a quiet inner ache during the holidays—a sign we’re longing for Christ, not more activity.


Childhood traditions may be fun, but they can’t replace encountering Jesus personally.


True Christmas joy comes from worship, gratitude, and seeking the One born to save us.


Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy in His first coming—and will fulfill the rest at His return.


Materialism can’t satisfy the soul; Christ alone brings peace, purpose, and rest.

Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!

Full Transcript Below:

Seeking Something More This Christmas

By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). 

During the Christmas season, it is common to get caught up in all the holiday preparations. We are so worried about buying gifts for everyone, preparing the Christmas dinner, and planning all the activities. All of this can become overwhelming and even take the joy of Christmas away from us. Rather than viewing Christmas as a day to celebrate our Savior, we see it as a stressful day, filled with obligations.

Sadly, this is not unusual for most people living in the modern world. Productivity has become the baseline for us, and if we are not being productive all the time, we are somehow failing. Within the realm of the Christmas holiday, we feel that we are not being productive or efficient if we haven’t bought all the presents we need to buy and finished all our preparations. In other words, we feel we are somehow failing at Christmas if everything is not perfect according to this materialistic world.

Similar to many people, I grew up with the view that Christmas was all about Santa Claus and gifts. However, even as a kid, I sometimes felt like there was something I was missing. As I became a teenager, I quickly saw how Christmas activities could turn sour when family members couldn't get along, and it made me more stressed about the holiday. I didn’t look forward to Christmas because I didn’t fully understand what it meant—I just associated it with stressful situations.

By the end of my first semester in college, I had truly come to understand that Christmas is the celebration of the Lord’s birth into the world. Even if we don’t have gifts, fancy dinners, or elaborate activities, we can still worship, praise, and give thanks to the Lord. We will all eventually come to this reality. Our souls will hunger and thirst for something more on Christmas if we genuinely do not know the Lord.

Our own family traditions and celebrations can be fun, but if they are not rooted in honoring Christ, our souls will continue to yearn for more. You may have already felt this, and you are ready to make a change. Talk with Him in prayers, read and study the Bible, and seek out trusted sources to learn more about Him. Jesus will reveal Himself to you and help satisfy your spiritual hunger.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Isaiah prophesied, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is the child who was born into the world. He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. 

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He came into the world. There are many other prophecies He fulfilled during His first coming, and He will fulfill even more prophecies during His second coming. Christmas is a time to seek out the truth of the Lord as well as to look forward to His return. He will return, which means we need to be ready (Revelation 16:15).

This Christmas, let us focus on seeking the Lord. We don’t need to try to satisfy our yearning hearts with materialism. Instead, we need to turn to the Lord and truly celebrate Him. Our hearts, souls, and entire beings can worship Him. Seek Him this Christmas and ensure your heart is following Him.

If you have not placed your faith in Jesus yet, know that you can do so today. Confess your sins to Him, ask Him to be your Savior, repent, and follow Him. You can start a new life today and walk in accordance with the Lord. Allow Jesus to bring your heart what it truly needs this Christmas and every other day of the year: His love. 

Jesus will fulfill our hearts' desires better than anyone or anything else. How might you return to Him this Christmas rather than turning to materialism?

Further Reading:

Deuteronomy 4:29

Jeremiah 29:13

Matthew 6:25-34

When the rush of Christmas leaves your heart feeling thin, Isaiah 9:6 offers the anchor every soul is truly craving. Beneath the wrapping paper, busy schedules, and pressure to &ldquo;get it all right,&rdquo; there&rsquo;s a deeper longing&mdash;one only the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace can satisfy. Our hearts were never designed to be filled by productivity, perfection, or presents; they were made to be filled by Him.
Highlights
<ul data-start="476" data-end="1138">
<li data-start="476" data-end="559">
Cultural pressure can turn Christmas into a checklist instead of a celebration.
</li>
<li data-start="560" data-end="664">
Many feel a quiet inner ache during the holidays&mdash;a sign we&rsquo;re longing for Christ, not more activity.
</li>
<li data-start="665" data-end="755">
Childhood traditions may be fun, but they can&rsquo;t replace encountering Jesus personally.
</li>
<li data-start="756" data-end="846">
True Christmas joy comes from worship, gratitude, and seeking the One born to save us.
</li>
<li data-start="847" data-end="945">
Jesus fulfilled Isaiah&rsquo;s prophecy in His first coming&mdash;and will fulfill the rest at His return.
</li>
<li data-start="946" data-end="1031">
Materialism can&rsquo;t satisfy the soul; Christ alone brings peace, purpose, and rest.
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/holiday-gift-guide-2025/">Holiday Gift Guide</a>
Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide&mdash;from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there&rsquo;s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas!
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Seeking Something More This Christmas
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace&rdquo; (Isaiah 9:6).&nbsp;
During the Christmas season, it is common to get caught up in all the holiday preparations. We are so worried about buying gifts for everyone, preparing the Christmas dinner, and planning all the activities. All of this can become overwhelming and even take the joy of Christmas away from us. Rather than viewing Christmas as a day to celebrate our Savior, we see it as a stressful day, filled with obligations.
Sadly, this is not unusual for most people living in the modern world. Productivity has become the baseline for us, and if we are not being productive all the time, we are somehow failing. Within the realm of the Christmas holiday, we feel that we are not being productive or efficient if we haven&rsquo;t bought all the presents we need to buy and finished all our preparations. In other words, we feel we are somehow failing at Christmas if everything is not perfect according to this materialistic world.
Similar to many people, I grew up with the view that Christmas was all about Santa Claus and gifts. However, even as a kid, I sometimes felt like there was something I was missing. As I became a teenager, I quickly saw how Christmas activities could turn sour when family members couldn't get along, and it made me more stressed about the holiday. I didn&rsquo;t look forward to Christmas because I didn&rsquo;t fully understand what it meant&mdash;I just associated it with stressful situations.
By the end of my first semester in college, I had truly come to understand that Christmas is the celebration of the Lord&rsquo;s birth into the world. Even if we don&rsquo;t have gifts, fancy dinners, or elaborate activities, we can still worship, praise, and give thanks to the Lord. We will all eventually come to this reality. Our souls will hunger and thirst for something more on Christmas if we genuinely do not know the Lord.
Our own family traditions and celebrations can be fun, but if they are not rooted in honoring Christ, our souls will continue to yearn for more. You may have already felt this, and you are ready to make a change. Talk with Him in prayers, read and study the Bible, and seek out trusted sources to learn more about Him. Jesus will reveal Himself to you and help satisfy your spiritual hunger.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Isaiah prophesied, &ldquo;For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace&rdquo; (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus is the child who was born into the world. He is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.&nbsp;
Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He came into the world. There are many other prophecies He fulfilled during His first coming, and He will fulfill even more prophecies during His second coming. Christmas is a time to seek out the truth of the Lord as well as to look forward to His return. He will return, which means we need to be ready (Revelation 16:15).
This Christmas, let us focus on seeking the Lord. We don&rsquo;t need to try to satisfy our yearning hearts with materialism. Instead, we need to turn to the Lord and truly celebrate Him. Our hearts, souls, and entire beings can worship Him. Seek Him this Christmas and ensure your heart is following Him.
If you have not placed your faith in Jesus yet, know that you can do so today. Confess your sins to Him, ask Him to be your Savior, repent, and follow Him. You can start a new life today and walk in accordance with the Lord. Allow Jesus to bring your heart what it truly needs this Christmas and every other day of the year: His love.&nbsp;
Jesus will fulfill our hearts' desires better than anyone or anything else. How might you return to Him this Christmas rather than turning to materialism?
Further Reading:
Deuteronomy 4:29
Jeremiah 29:13
Matthew 6:25-34

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.