I’ve been seeing a lot of nostalgic videos of Christmas from the early 2000s on my feed lately. You know, the ones with grainy clips of clothespin reindeer crafts, lots of Christmas clutter (my wife calls it decorations), and warm colourful lights around the house. It takes me back to when Christmas felt simple. Back when “complicated” meant trying to guess what was inside the present with my name on it.

But as you grow up, Christmas changes. The season becomes… layered. Coordinating time with both sides of the family. Balancing traditions you grew up with and traditions you’re trying to build. Deciding who you really need to buy gifts for and how much you should spend. Navigating grief, pressure, expectations, and group chats that get busier in December than any other month of the year.

Sometimes, if I’m honest, I wish I could go back. Not for the toys or the nostalgia, but for the simplicity. For that feeling that everything was taken care of, and all I had to do was show up. And that’s why Jesus’ words in Matthew 11 hit differently during Advent. He says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Not the kind of rest that comes from less responsibility or fewer expectations. But a deeper rest… a rest for your soul.

Jesus never tells us to go backwards. He meets us right where we are: tired, stretched thin, maybe a little nostalgic for when life felt lighter. And instead of offering us escape, He offers Himself. A gentle Savior. A humble King. Someone who carries the weight with us and teaches us a new way to walk through life, one that isn’t ruled by pressure or hurry.

Advent isn’t just about celebrating that Jesus came into the world. It’s about remembering why He came. Not to give us a less complicated life, but to give us a deeper peace in the midst of it. A peace not tied to circumstance. A peace we don’t perform for. A peace found in His presence, where all we have to do is show up.

Maybe what we’re really longing for this season isn’t the simplicity of the past, but the rest Jesus promises right now.

May this season remind you that the Savior who came for you is the same Savior who holds you, and He delights to give you rest.