In the midst of heavy national debates and busy schedules, President Obama says it's important to keep things in perspective.

Obama invited Christian leaders from across the country to the White House Tuesday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"During this season we are reminded that there's something about the resurrection. something about the resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ that puts everything else in perspective," Obama told the audience at the breakfast.

The Easter Prayer Breakfast is a White House tradition started by the president last year.

"The Easter egg roll, that's well established," Obama said as the crowd responded with laughter.

"In the words of the book Isaiah -- 'But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our inequities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed,' the president said.

"This magnificent grace, this expansive grace, this amazing grace calls me to reflect and it calls me to pray. It calls me to ask God for forgiveness for the times that have not shown grace to others. Those times when I've fallen short," he added.

"It was a wonderful way to start Holy Week, having our leader recite the scripture of God," Suzan Johnson Cook, the president's ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom, told CBN News.

Cook said even though it's been a tough year, Americans can find hope in Jesus.

"Resurrection means hope for us as believers so to never give out -- to never give up but no matter what you're going through on the other side. The stones can be rolled away," she said.

Many of the Christian leaders at the prayer breakfast work with President Obama on issues year-round through his office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Neighborhood Partnerships.