The Sweet Aroma of a Slowed-Down Christmas

Ashley Durand
Dec 4
4 min read

A Sign on a Snowy Road

Today I drove by a church sign that said, “Advent helps us to slow down, and so does ice.”

I chuckled to myself as I navigated the snowy Michigan road in my minivan.

Ice should make people slow down, but many still go too fast anyway. As I thought about that, I realized how profound that sign really was. We do the same thing with Christmas. The season should help us slow down and remember its meaning—but instead it often feels like sliding out of control on a frozen bypass.

When Christmas Becomes a Blur

My focus can so easily shift to the gifts I want to buy, the decorations I want to put up, the family gatherings, the baked treats… and honestly, all of those things are part of what I love about Christmas. The lights and the laughter are gifts God has given me to enjoy.

Still, the idea of slowing down for Advent feels out of reach. Where would I even begin? And besides—I reasoned—I am appreciating Jesus’ birth by celebrating Christmas in such a big way, right?

But What Am I Actually Giving God?

As I kept thinking about that church sign, another question hit me. I spend so much time trying to make Christmas wonderful for my family and friends (and let’s be honest—also for myself).But what am I giving to God during Christmas?

Sounds cheesy, right? Hang with me.

I don’t mean tithes or charitable giving—those are important, of course. And I don’t mean adding something else to my “to do” or “to buy” list. I mean:

What am I giving God through my heart posture during Christmas?

Am I so busy during Advent that my time with Him gets pushed aside?Am I so stressed by money, schedules, and responsibilities that what I offer Him is a heart filled with anxiety?

God gave me His one and only Son at Christmas to save me from my sins.So am I giving Him a faithless, tired, distracted heart in return?

Does God get my leftovers at Christmas?

The Cost of Worship

I remembered something I heard a Nicaraguan pastor say during a mission trip I attended years ago. He was preaching to a congregation of people who were often barefoot, hungry, and had very little. He began teaching on worship.

He read from 2 Samuel 24, where King David built an altar after a plague struck the land. A man offered to give David the land, wood, and oxen for free—but David refused. He said:“I will not present burnt offerings to the Lord that cost me nothing.”Then he paid full price for everything.

The pastor explained that worship shouldn’t be comfortable or easy. We often don’t sing, raise our hands, pray on our literal knees, serve, or give because it feels awkward or unnatural. But, he said:“Worship should cost you something.”

Those people—who had almost nothing—understood sacrifice far better than many of us ever will.

It was the first time I realized that worship isn’t just singing or praising God. It’s the posture of a humble heart—the deep belief that God is worth more than anything else, even if honoring Him costs us comfort, pride, or resources.

How Do We Actually Slow Down to Worship God at Christmas?

1. Make Time for Him

Instead of being too busy for God, let’s intentionally slow down to meditate on Him. Yes, there will be events, recipes, and shopping—lots of it! And I’ll enjoy every bit. But I don’t want to give God my leftovers.

During a busy season, slowing down might mean sacrificing a little sleep in the morning to spend time reading Scripture and praying.

2. Trust God More Than Your Feelings

Holiday anxiety is real. According to the American Psychological Association, 90% of Americans feel overwhelmed around Christmas—whether by finances, grief, or family tension.

But when anxiety controls our time, thoughts, and actions, we may actually be “worshipping” our feelings—letting them rule instead of God.

1 John 3:20 reminds us:“For when our heart condemns us, God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.”

One practical tool: sit down with a notebook and list all the times God has come through for you—especially in your worries or sadness. Read that list often when overwhelm tries to take over.

3. Live as a Living Sacrifice

In the Old Testament, the Israelites made sacrifices—burnt offerings and incense—as a sweet-smelling aroma to God. These sacrifices communicated obedience and atoned for sin. Jesus death on the cross made the final sacrifice for us, but that doesn't mean we can't offer to God a life lived as a sweet aroma to him.

2 Corinthians 2:14–15 says:“Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume… our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.”

The way we live out our everyday routines —our choices, attitudes, and obedience—can become a sweet aroma of worship.

The question is: Are we offering God a sweet scent, or a stinky one rising from a hardened or self-centered heart?