The world tells us that acceptance, popularity, and approval are essential. But in this season, those things must take the backseat. What matters is standing firm in what is right, guided not by judgment but by holy and biblical principles.

Let’s pivot our focus away from social media and its unbalanced narratives about body image to a gentler approach to the American menu of holiday overindulgence. Tired of feeling held captive to the temptation of festive treats and the emotional hangover that follows? Jesus is about setting captives free! Invite God to be your +1 at the Christmas party and abide in the peace and joy He provides within the body He uniquely designed for you.

As Christian women, using the Bible is the only way we will ever be able to quiet the noise and chaos around us and within us. Whatever you're dreading about this season, give it over to the Lord. What is that one thing that has ‘‘snuck up on you’’ yet again?

I struggle to feel the relentless love of God. When I look at my life, I often feel like the love I receive from God, relents. In thinking about the theme for this issue, I knew I did not know what it was to be loved relentlessly. Not for lack of relentless love being offered, but for lack of understanding of how to respond to a love I’m not sure I feel.

God keeps all of creation in His care in the unforgiving venue of winter. Just as Jesus was divinely protected until the appointed time of His sacrifice, as seen in John 7:30, so too are the creatures of the earth held within the sustaining hand of the Creator. The Psalms echo this theme—Psalm 104, for example, vividly describes how God provides food, shelter, and seasons for every living thing. Even in times of scarcity, there is a rhythm of divine provision and preservation