Winter survival kit

Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul (Psalm 86:4).

January and February are the darkest, coldest months of the year. When snow falls, most of the time we have to shovel it because it is not likely to melt anytime soon. Snow storms and icy conditions force us to change our plans. We get tired of brown fields and dirty snow in the ditches; only evergreens give us color, but they are few and far between.

Sometimes our lives seem as if they are stuck in the dead of winter. Depression steals away color, leaving only dirty browns and drab grays. Like a winter storm, illness comes suddenly and we are left dealing with the effects for a long time afterwards. There are times when it seems as if all love has fled our lives, and we feel cold and alone. We make plans for the future, only to have something unexpected come along and ruin everything.

Experts tell you to prepare for winter. You should have extra food on hand that doesn’t need to be kept refrigerated or heated up to eat. When you travel, you should slow down and allow extra time; you car should have a flashlight, blankets, a shovel, and cat litter for traction. And you should make time to get outside and enjoy the sunlight whenever possible, because you need sunlight for both physical and mental health.

In the same way, you can get through the wintry periods in your life with good planning. Avoid depression by putting color in your life—make time for hobbies, go visit someplace you’ve never been before, or strike up a conversation with a stranger. Don’t let nagging symptoms grow into major health problems; go see a doctor promptly if you aren’t feeling right. When you make plans, try to anticipate problems and have in mind a couple different ways to achieve your goal—that way, if events block one path, you won’t feel as if all is lost. You need to slow down so that life doesn’t overwhelm you with its demands.

Most importantly, you need light—the light of Christ. You need to know that He loves you and that you are not alone in the cold. You need the warmth of His love, and the hope that with His help, things will get better. So read His Bible. Join with other Christians in worship. Make a habit of praying to Him every day. For the wintery times of your life, there is no better survival kit than the Son of God.