When the Holidays Stir Up Soul Wounds

How to Recognize the Emotions and Invite God Into the Healing

The holidays are supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” but for many people, this season brings more heaviness than celebration. While the world focuses on family gatherings, traditions, and joy, old soul wounds can quietly rise to the surface—sometimes unexpectedly.

The truth is this: the holidays don’t just bring back memories; they can also reactivate unhealed places in the heart especially during Thanksgiving and Christmas. And that doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human.

Why the Holidays Trigger Old Wounds

Soul wounds come from painful experiences—rejection, loss, abandonment, betrayal, unmet needs, or broken relationships. During the year, we stay busy and distracted, but the holiday season slows things down and shines a spotlight on what’s unresolved.

Memories surface. Empty seats become more noticeable. Family dynamics intensify. Old conflicts feel fresh again. The holidays hold emotional weight because they’re tied to connection, belonging, and identity—places where many of us have been hurt.

God Is Close to You in This Season:

Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God doesn’t avoid your pain.He draws near to it. When old wounds surface, it’s not a sign that you’re going backwards. It’s a sign that God is bringing something to the surface so He can heal it, not shame you for it. You don’t have to pretend you’re okay. You don’t have to spiritualize the pain or push it down. Your honesty is the doorway to your healing.

What You Can Do When Soul Wounds Rise

Here are a few practical and spiritual steps to help you navigate the season with peace and clarity:

1. Acknowledge what you’re feeling.

You can’t heal what you’re unwilling to recognize. Give yourself permission to feel what’s coming up.

2. Protect your emotional boundaries.

You don’t have to attend every gathering, engage in every conversation, or put yourself in environments that drain your peace.

3. Create intentional moments of rest and reflection.

Slow down. Breathe. Journal. Invite God into the conversation:“Lord, show me why this hurts… and heal what I can’t fix on my own.”

4. Don’t aim for a perfect holiday—aim for a peaceful one.

Peace is better than performance. Presence is better than perfection.

5. Anchor your heart in God’s truth.

When emotions rise, whisper: “God, meet me here.”He will. Every time.

God Wants to Heal What the Season Reveals

What God reveals, He intends to heal. If this season shines a light on old wounds, it’s not a setback—it’s an opportunity for deep, lasting restoration.

God is rewriting the painful chapters. He’s restoring parts of you that you didn’t think could be healed. And He’s reminding you that your story doesn’t end in brokenness, your story ends in freedom.

A Prayer for Healing During the Holidays:

“Father, You see every wound that rises during this season. Heal the parts of me that still feel broken. Give me peace where there’s pain, comfort where there’s loss, and strength where there’s heaviness. Lead me gently into healing, and remind me that I’m not alone in this. In Jesus’ name, amen.”