As the seasons change in Tennessee, so too the length of each day. The November time change will make this even more difficult, as sundown comes early and we drive home from work in the dark. Gone are the nice, sun-filled evening walks—a natural desire to sleep kicks in.
The fall and winter months can be difficult for many people, but especially hard for those experiencing grief or living alone. Even years after my mother passed away, my dear father always talked about how hard winter was. After the loss of my own husband, I finally understood what he meant.
I’ve never been at ease in the darkness. It’s hard to make your way in the shadows. I need light. Learning from my father’s experience and now my own, I have grown to have a new appreciation for light. So, while we are still in the lovely days of October, I wanted to share a few thoughts on how to avoid the darkness doldrums.
When I went through not one but two weeks of these doldrums a few years ago, I began to ask God what it meant. I didn’t remember struggling so before. That’s when I realized (or more accurately, he brought to mind) that I had let the shadows into my mind, and they’d affected my state of being. What sweeps away the shadows? Light.
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. (Psalm 18:28 NIV).
That’s when I knew I had to make some changes. I came home from work, and instead of slumping into my easy (or lazy) chair, I went for a walk—even in the darkness. Then, I came home and turned on lots of lights to chase away the physical darkness of the yet early evening. It wasn’t time to give in. I’ve also turned down the heat in my house, to keep me cooler and less likely to grow drowsy too early.
God reminded me that, though the seasons change, he’s got places for me to go, things for me to do, and opportunities for me to enjoy his presence and Word.
Do you feel the darkness affecting your spirit? Focus on the Light and let him chase those shadows away!
Grace and Peace
Carol B. Ghattas is a writer, speaker, and active blogger. Subscribe to her blog, lifeinexile.net, or follow her on Facebook or Instagram. Connect with her at lifeinexile.net.
