Navigating Seasons of Gray: A Faith-Based Approach
by Kaase Boer
The holiday season and winter months in Michigan can often carry complicated emotions and experiences for many. Whether it is called seasonal depression or the winter blues, it strikes us all in different ways. Winter is not always hot chocolate, snowball fights, and joyous laughter around a fireplace; it is also dreary gray days, sluggish and heavy mornings, and bitter cold that feels never ending. I am pretty sure C.S. Lewis writes about Michigan in his Chronicles of Narnia books, describing the frozen world of Narnia as “always winter, but never Christmas” due to a spell from the White Witch. Regardless of how much some of us may enjoy the snow, we all feel this to varying degrees during this time. So what exactly is seasonal depression, and how are we supposed to respond as the church?
God lovingly designed our bodies with such intricate care and detail (Psalm 139:13-14), and our physical and emotional well-being is a constant balancing act of sorts between the world around us and the world within us. Simple things like less vitamin D absorption, sleep rhythms being disrupted by encroaching darkness, changes in serotonin and melatonin levels, and gray skies can impact how we feel over the course of the winter months. Decreased connection and time with people can add to feelings of isolation and loneliness. To complicate matters, greater connection with extended family is not always a purely restful or joyful experience for many. There is never just one reason that we feel a certain way, and there is unfortunately not a “one size fits all” solution to anything we are experiencing in life. The fact of the matter is, we are unique and complex creations, and that means we must be equally as creative and flexible with how we may respond.
Part of God’s intentional design for our bodies and emotions is to be able to care well for it and even control aspects of it. Think of your body and emotions less like a thermometer and more like a thermostat. If I notice that I am feeling especially angry, anxious, or sad, I am not just stuck simply feeling that emotion and being too hot or too cold, I can have a measure of control. I can turn the dial up or down depending on my response and see a degree of change through faithful and consistent action. We can take our thoughts captive, renew our minds, meditate on His Word, and find perfect peace in Him. This is represented both in our biology (God’s intentional design), and biblically (God’s intentional Word).
While this may seem simple in theory, it can be exceedingly difficult to implement. Thankfully, there are some fairly universal and helpful things we can do to take steps towards remaining healthy during the Narnia months in Michigan!
We see in 1 Corinthians that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we are to care for and respect them as stewards of what we have been given, just as we would with our church building.
Establishing and maintaining a healthy sleep schedule, regular exercise as you are able, and eating a balanced and healthy diet all contribute significantly to our physical and emotional well being.
It is also important to actually get outside during this season. While our homes can be cozy and warm, our best lights and inventions are not a true replacement for the benefits and beauty that are in God’s creation, however gray and dreary some days might be.
Most importantly, our engagement with Scripture and our relationship with God is paramount in seasons like this, as well as in every other area of our lives. When we make Scripture an everyday aspect of our lives we are reminded of such wonderful truths, develop and learn wisdom, and grow closer to the one who holds and keeps us. We can be reminded of His love and provision when we see birds (Luke 12:6-7), know that gratitude and positivity are a balm for many disheartening things (Philippians 4:6--9), and find rest in His presence (Matthew 11:28-30).
We also learn that the church is meant to walk through life together (Ecclesiastes 4:12), and through godly and encouraging community we can push back against the darkness in our own lives and the lives of others. Make an intentional effort to both ask for connection with others and to seek out opportunities to join with others during this time. As we write the lovingly crafted Word on our hearts, we begin to see the world with a new perspective, and can be filled with hope that is overflowing, even in the winter months.
Just as we can see people turning their face and soaking up the warmth from the sun on the rare days that it makes its appearance this winter, so must we turn our face to the Son and remain steadfast in Him. Give yourself grace, knowing that you are in good company with many others who may struggle, and know that our kind and gracious Father will give us our “manna,” or just enough for today’s small step in the right direction.
Kaase Boer is the Director of Care and Counseling at Wellspring Church. Email Kaase