It seems that there have been a lot of gloomy days lately. Much of it is due to clouds and rain that has come and stayed in different areas of our country. I know this blog also reaches some of my friends who have snow and ice right now that can also lead to a feeling of dreariness. Sometimes, even if the sun is shining, we are dealing with our own gloom and the days remain dark for us.

Light deprivation or as it is medically known, Sensory Affective Disorder is a real, recognized medical condition. I don’t think that it is a coincident that the initials of this condition spell SAD. It is usually seasonal and can lead to depression, fatigue and lack of motivation. However, there is help for this condition, and much of it is light therapy, which involves getting more light into your system.

What about spiritual gloomy days? We all have days when we are fatigued, fighting spiritual battles. In those days it seems easier to just let life happen to us, and we lack the motivation to be what we know we should be. We want to pull the covers over our heads and stay there until the feeling passes, but we know the more we do that, the gloomier our world will become. There is hope for this spiritual disorder, and it is the same as for the physical one, light therapy.

In John 8:12 Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world.” Throughout the Bible, people who were undergoing hard, depressing times realized that the light of the Lord was the answer.
 

“For You are my lamp, O LORD; And the LORD illumines my darkness.” (2 Samuel 22:29)

“Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.” (Micah 7:8)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

God also calls us to be the bearer of light to others. We are to reflect the light of Christ in us to the gloomy world around us. Take a moment to ask God to give you a little light therapy today and to make you aware of those around you who might need to see his light in you.
 

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8) (NIV)