It feels like it’s been an especially turbulent year, doesn’t it? To be honest, by the time Christmas season rolls around, most years have started to feel a bit exhausting and overwhelming. As 2016 has rolled on, we’ve been challenged to respond to multiple acts of terror and violence, we’ve slogged through a contentious American presidential election—and many of our brothers and sisters outside America have grappled with much worse. Add to that whatever personal concerns or trials you’re facing, and it adds up to a pretty traumatic twelve months.

[Browse the Christmas section in the Bible Gateway Store]

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to end 2016 on a different note? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to experience the peace of Jesus Christ that puts all our worries and sorrows in perspective?

We’d like to help you do just that. We’ve put together three free Christmas devotionals designed to help you step aside from stress and simply focus on Jesus during this busy time of year. Each devotional approaches the Christmas season from a different angle. They are:

• The Bible Gateway Advent Devotional: Our popular Advent Devotional explores the meaning of the Christmas season through an interesting mix of Bible passages, sermons, and quotes. If you’re interested in a slightly offbeat approach to Christmas that explores a mix of different Christian devotional writing, this is for you.

• Christmas Joy: Do you know what it means to experience the joy of Christmas? Is “joy” even a word you would ever associate with your busy holiday schedule? It can be! Pastor Mel Lawrenz, author of the popular How to Understand the Bible series, presents a devotional for each day of the Christmas season. (Also available in Spanish!)

• Because of Bethlehem (by Max Lucado): Beloved author Max Lucado shares encouragement and inspiration drawn from his new book. If what you need is a quick dose of encouragement each day, this is written for you. (Also available in Spanish!)

These devotionals begin during Advent, but you can sign up today so you don’t miss out! Visit our Christmas Devotions page to sign up!

In the weeks to come, we’ll be posting about other free devotional content you can find at Bible Gateway to help you get into the spirit of Christmas. Whatever devotional or resource you turn to, we hope that this Christmas you’ll set aside some time to revisit the original story of Christmas and consider what it means for you today!