Strains of the Season: Winter Blues
Five years ago, I spent Christmas sitting with my precious preemie daughter in the NICU. After being hospitalized for most of December, my doctors finally decided to induce my labor at thirty-three weeks due to my volatile blood pressure. Small but mighty, my sweet girl entered the world on December 20, 2017. Although I was elated at her safe arrival, I remember feeling incredibly sad about spending our first Christmas as a family in the hospital. I was utterly devastated and could barely hold the tears on any given day. I cried so much that I thought my eyes would be indefinitely swollen! But God was gracious to get us through that season. It was tough, but a few weeks later, we were finally home and enjoying normal life together.
I’d love to tell you that was the last time I experienced such a deep level of sadness, but I’d be lying. Since the birth of my daughter, I have consistently battled the blues and even incredibly fierce bouts of depression, especially throughout the winter months. I’ve often felt just as gloomy and cold on the inside as the skies outside reflect, wading through deep mental, spiritual, and even physical battles.
But amidst all the discouragement, I’ve learned that the ultimate solution and hope for getting through these tough seasons has been (and still is) Jesus. During my darkest days, I have come to know my Savior more intimately and personally than at any other point in my life. He is our light in the darkness. And while he provides for us through seasons of sadness in many ways (for instance, things like medication/supplements, therapy, exercise, sleep, etc.), I’d like to offer three things God has graciously taught me throughout my journey. These are some of the practical tools he’s used in my life to help me counsel my heart with gospel truth when those winter blues hit:
1. Prepare for the Battle Before the Battle
For many people, struggles with sadness can intensify after the busyness of the holiday season, when post-Christmas blues settle in and cold, dark months loom ahead. For others, the battle might stretch from early fall well into the first few weeks of spring. Practically, there are a variety of dynamics within our bodies and minds that can occur when we are in the throes of winter blues. However, it is important to recognize that these situational dynamics are not merely coincidental; they can also be very real forms of spiritual warfare.
The Christian life is not a playground; it’s a battleground. Not only do we deal with the outward brokenness of this physical world, but we fight in an unseen war. One of Satan’s primary objectives is often to leave the people of God downcast and without hope. Our physical, emotional, and mental states are all areas where the enemy may try to wage war. The Apostle Paul encourages believers to stand firm against the devil’s wiles—to prepare for battle—by saying,
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:14-18)
The first thing listed here is truth; more explicitly, Paul references the Word of truth (i.e., Scripture). God’s Word is the part of our armor that holds everything else together, that builds our defense against Satan. To fight well, we must know and believe Scripture deep in our minds and hearts. And we cannot wait until we are in the thick of the winter blues to study and memorize God’s Word. We must prepare for the battle before the battle.
In Psalm 119:105, the psalmist specifically speaks of Scripture as “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” This verse has been an anchor for me during the darkest winter days. I can vividly remember moments when the Holy Spirit cast out the despair in my heart by bringing the truth of God to my remembrance. I remember being counseled and comforted with Scripture that I had learned months (and even years) prior. At no point in our lives will we waste time by studying Scripture. The Word of God is profitable every season, even when we’re not as aware of our needs. We can practically prepare for hard seasons ahead by studying God’s Word intentionally and consistently—right here and right now.
2. Sing through the Shadows
In their book Sing!, Keith and Kristyn Getty write, “God designed our psyche for singing. When singing praise to God, so much more than just the vocal box is engaged.”[1] Whether we want to admit it or not, music (specifically singing) affects us in various ways. Sad songs typically make us weepy. Happy, upbeat songs make us smile and dance. Likewise, something extraordinary happens in our hearts when we sing unto the Lord.
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day” (Psalm 96:1-2). Here, the psalmist is not merely encouraging that we sing actual new songs. Instead, the encouragement is to take every opportunity to sing fresh praises and thanksgiving to God. In my own seasons of sadness, singing songs of God’s goodness and mercy (whether alone at home or with church family on Sunday) kept me hanging on one moment at a time.
If I am honest, there have been many moments when I haven’t felt like making a joyful noise. But God, in his kindness, has used “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph. 5:19) to help me lament, cry out for his mercy, rest in his care, and lift my eyes to his blessed glory. Whether it’s singing through simple songs of biblical truth with our children or listening to worship music while cleaning the kitchen—or maybe just praying to the tune of a cherished hymn—God is always faithful to present a variety of ways that we can sing through the shadows.
3. Pursue the Blessing of Fellowship
When we’re sad and feeling alone, we can be prone to forget one of God’s purposes for humanity. Yes, God created us to be in relationship with him and to glorify him. But God also created us for fellowship with one another. On days when I’ve struggled to see the truth or even hum a worshipful tune, I am grateful for the body of believers who have walked alongside me. My small group, the counselor on staff at my church, my husband, and even co-workers have prayed, counseled, and served me when I’ve felt down. God has designed us to share our burdens with a beautiful community of believers around us in the local church, and we need the encouragement, exhortation, counsel, comfort, and accountability they provide—especially in those dark and difficult seasons of our lives.
In the winter months, pursuing the blessing of fellowship is not limited to face-to-face interactions with people in our communities. Sometimes getting together is complicated by months-long darkness, frigid temperatures, sickness, or multiple weather-related cancellations. But the goal of pursuing fellowship is not mere togetherness. Rather, it is connectedness! God desires that we remain connected to him and connected to the body of Christ. And we can remain connected (to God and others) even if circumstances arise that are physically hindering.
As someone who has battled chronic illness for many years, I know firsthand what it feels like to be limited in face-to-face interactions. But even when I am in physical isolation, I am never in spiritual isolation. Through prayer, meditating on Scripture together, and even a whole lot of technology (i.e., Zoom and FaceTime), God has blessed me with fellowship and connectedness among brothers and sisters in Christ who love and care for me, especially during dark seasons of life.
We can be tempted to close ourselves off and away from others when feeling down—to sit alone in our sadness—but I’ve seen incredible fruit in my own life of working to resist that temptation. Satan wants nothing more than to isolate us from the rest of the flock. But God gives us community not only for our edification but also for our protection. Our fellowship with one another is truly a grace and gift from God.
I’d love to tell you that these principles are the 100% cure-all for winter blues. But the truth is—sad days may still come. Sometimes we may walk through profound seasons of grief while other times we may feel low-grade blues that we can’t quite pinpoint. It’s unfortunate that we live in a broken world where all of creation has been marred by sin. But the good news is that the brokenness will not last forever. One day, God will wipe away all tears from our eyes; there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All of these things will be gone forever.[2] How beautiful is it to know that we have an eternal hope to look toward? In the meantime, we continue fighting for joy through these long winter months, while we await our Savior’s sweet return!
[1] Keith and Kristyn Getty, Sing!: How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church, (Nashville: B&H Books, 2017)
[2] Revelation 21:4
