Holiday Travel

Today’s theme is holiday travel — the chaotic, hilarious, memory-making kind.

If you’re heading out soon, or just remembering past trips, you know the drill: luggage everywhere, snacks flying, and at least one family member who insists they “don’t need a coat” — even though it’s cold out.

But hey, holiday travel is part of the adventure, right?

You know the holidays are close when the airport looks like someone shook a snow globe full of people.

Lines everywhere.

Suitcases that refuse to cooperate.

And that one person trying to get through security with a wrapped present — bold move.

And we all know what’s going on with the airline right now, so travel could be even trickier.

And if you’re driving? Oh, road trips have their own charm. That’s the way we usually travel.

You start out with good intentions, thinking, “This will be fun!” Then thirty minutes in, you’re questioning the life choices that led you onto the interstate.

But the thing is — even with all the chaos, the delays, and the GPS arguments — holiday travel has a funny way of turning into the stories we remember most.

You know, as we think about all the movement and madness of holiday travel, I’m reminded of something comforting: God travels with us.

Psalm 121:8 (NLT) says, “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”

Whether you’re flying across the country, driving across town, or just navigating the busyness in your heart, He’s right there — steady, present, and guiding your steps.

Holiday travel may be unpredictable… but God never is.

Wherever you go, He goes too.

Alright, let’s talk packing — holiday packing.

Have you ever noticed how you can pack the same suitcase in July with no problem… but in December, that suitcase acts like it has personal boundaries?

You try to zip it and it’s like, “Absolutely not.”

You’re sitting on it, praying over it, bribing it — nothing.

And don’t even get me started on the people who pack EVERYTHING — I’m an over packer, so I’m talking about myself here.

I pack for a 3-day trip like I’ll be gone for a month, but I’m just now realizing that if it’s longer than 3 days, I pretty much pack everything I own.

I guess this just means all my trips need to be at least a week long.

Holiday packing feels like a competitive sport… and most of us are losing.

The suitcase is a tough competitor.

Rolling along with our theme of holiday travel — the delays, the memories, and the unexpected joy along the way.

It’s a busy season, but it’s also a beautiful one. And we’re moving through it together this morning.

It’s fun to travel and see family and friends around the holidays — there’s just something different about it. You know you’ll spend most of your time with the people you love, and there’s excitement in that.

You can always tell who’s serious about holiday travel by their snack selection.

Some folks bring granola bars. Others? Full charcuterie boards.

I bring easy and quick things, and I can tell you this — even if I bring snacks, we are still stopping at Buc-ee’s and getting more. When we get back on the road, we have snacks to last a week — they need their own suitcase.

Then there’s the car playlist — the unspoken battle of, “Who controls the music?”(It is always my husband.)

And pit stops… oh, pit stops.

There is always one person who insists they “don’t need to go” until the moment you pass the last rest stop for 42 miles. (Not going to sugarcoat this — I am the one asking to stop more than anyone else.)

But these small things — the snacks, the music, the shared detours — they’re the moments that turn a long trip into something special.

As we go about our travels, we can sometimes get so focused on the destination that we forget the journey matters too.

The conversations.

The laughter.

Even the moments when everything feels a little too loud or too crowded — it’s all part of how God weaves memories into our lives.

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

So wherever your holiday travel takes you this year, trust that God is in every mile and every moment.

Let’s take a moment to pray.

A lot of people are traveling today, and we need to seek the Lord to guide us this holiday season.

Lord, thank You for this season — for the movement, the moments, and the memories being made. If we’re traveling, keep us safe. If we’re staying home, keep us peaceful. Guide every step, protect every mile, and fill every heart with Your joy. Amen.

You know the funny thing about holiday travel? No matter how far you go, the best part is always coming home. In fact, have you ever noticed how the trip home seems so much shorter than the drive to wherever you went?

You walk through your front door and that sudden familiarity hits — and you feel the peace of making it home.

Your couch.

Your coffee mug.

Your own bathroom — which honestly deserves its own appreciation moment.

You couldn’t be happier to see it all.

There’s something comforting about returning to your own space, where everything feels just a little more “you.”

Holiday travel is exciting… but coming home? That’s where the real exhale happens.

Life is full of journeys — big ones, small ones, planned ones, and surprise ones.

But in every single one, God is faithful.

Psalm 32:8 (NLT) says, “The Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.”

So, wherever this season takes you — down the street or across the country — may you go with peace, return with joy, and remember that God is with you in every mile.