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By: Pastor Berg
Most of you know that I’m not a fan of winter. I’m actually enjoying the mild winter we’re having so far. But I know what’s coming. The cold and the snow are inevitable. And I’m really hoping that winter doesn’t extend into March and April. When it does, it feels like winter lasts forever. For some people, the long winters and the lack of sunshine actually affect them mentally. But on days when the sun shines, winter doesn’t seem quite so long. Seeing the sun in the sky makes it feel warmer, even if it’s really not. It’s amazing what effect the sun has on the human psyche. God certainly knew what he was doing when he put the sun in the sky.
For many people, this is the time of year when the winter blahs set in. People come off of the enormous high of the holiday season and slowly fall. The weather is too cold to enjoy most outdoor activities. The sun doesn’t shine as often. We get tired of being cooped up inside. The school year seems to go on forever. People find themselves more tired and even depressed during these last winter months.
There are many things that people try and do to get rid of the winter blahs. Some will take a vacation to a warm, exotic location. But that’s only a temporary fix. You always have to come back. Some people try to fill their lives with busyness. But that, too, will eventually grow old. Some people try to think about spring and summer and all of the great things we have to look forward to. But that makes some people even more depressed. So what can we do? How can we solve the winter blahs?
Turn on the light! I’m not talking about the light in your home, but the light in your heart! The heart of the winter blahs is the heart of the festival half of the church year. In the season of Epiphany, we celebrate Jesus revealing himself to the world as the Christ. True God, true man, Savior, the light for the Gentiles; Jesus is the light in our hearts. This season helps us to bask in the light of Christ as he is revealed to the world!
All sinners are born into a something like the winter blahs. But it’s far worse! They are born in complete spiritual darkness. They never saw the light of the Son. But, God has revealed the Son to them. He says in Isaiah 9:2, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. For those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned.” God revealed his Son to those who were living in darkness. Now they could see! Now life had meaning and purpose and direction. Life was now full of true spiritual light! It was full of Christ! The joy and happiness of knowing their Savior and finally seeing the light drove away any semblance of the winter blahs!
That’s the solution we too can seek during these winter blahs. Turn on the light. Turn on the light of God’s Word. Bask in the glow of your Savior as he is revealed to you throughout this entire season of Epiphany! Warm yourselves with his love that pours off the pages of Scripture. Taste and touch his salvation as he gives you his body and blood. Don’t seek the answer in yourself! Turn on the Light of Life! Find true happiness and joy in your Epiphany Lord!
Pastor Berg