Our bodies need the sun. Its light is widely accepted as a mood trigger. Yet, in winter, the days are short, and the hours of darkness seem to devour our every waking moment. We wait desperately for the summer months, and we become mired in the depths of despair.
Depression overcomes us, and we forget all the good God has done for us. If we are not careful, we can lose sight of the goodness of the Father and the plans he has for our future.
Revelation 1:19 gives us three steps to make it through the dark days of winter:
1st Step: Write down the good things God has done for us.
2nd Step: Journal the current situation, no matter how bad it is.
3rd Step: Claim the future we want to have, and put it on paper.
Of course, in Revelation, John’s words speak of the vision of the Lord for the end days. However, the same process works for us in the here and now.
Here is how these steps help us:
When we list the past blessings we have received, it reminds us that our current situation is not forever. No matter how bad it seems, things have not always been this way.
Putting our current feelings on paper helps us to acknowledge them. If we are low or depressed, those feelings are very real, no matter what the cause. We must admit them, even as we refuse to let them rule over us.
Setting a goal for the future gives us something to aspire to. It can be a summer picnic with a friend or family member, or a run with the dog in the park. We can plan a vacation or a new flowerbed for the yard.
Each item we put in our list is a tally mark for survival, for the future, for getting past that which draws us down. Let’s make lots of tally marks, so that we can know just what God has done for us. The time will come when we can once again bask in the sun.
When we remember God’s blessings, we are reminded of his love for us.
Copyright © 2014 MyChurchNotes.net
Code: FGO.K.29.13d.vp