Finding Light in the Winter: Faith and Emotional Wellness for Harder Seasons

Winter can feel heavy, but you’re not powerless. Here’s how to reconnect with God’s goodness and take simple, life-giving steps toward emotional wellness.

The colder and darker months are busier for counselors. People don’t thrive with limited time outdoors and more family time indoors. So, if you’ve been feeling “not quite like yourself” lately, you’re not alone.

Practically, there are some things you should and should not do.

Helpful Things To Do:

• If you’re struggling to do the things that are healthy or typical for you, consider what’s been helpful for you in the past, and try to insert that into your schedule.

• If you haven’t had a physical in the past year, touch base with your PCP for a check up.

• Initiate or resume counseling.  

• Get outside and get moving.

• Consider healthy food choices, keep hydrated, and limit coffee, alcohol, and nicotine.

• Intentionally incorporate life-giving activities and perspectives–your feelings don’t have to dictate your choices. 

Things to Avoid:

• Don’t isolate yourself from your community.

• Don’t give up on your ability to affect change, even with your mood.

Psalm 34 speaks of God’s faithfulness and goodness. In verse 8, the psalmist encourages us to “taste and see that the Lord is good”.

Before you get busy trying to feel better, I encourage you to pause and consider His goodness. Savor something for each of your senses, and give thanks to God for His good gifts. You’re more likely to be empowered to take life-giving steps if you’re mindful of His presence and goodness.

When our children were young, getting to church on a Sunday morning was brutal. The whole job of waking, feeding, and clothing a fairly large and active family unit at the same time felt stressful and daunting. And then…blueberry pancakes.

My wife and I decided to engage the moment, or season of our life, with intentionality and a sense of gladness. We didn’t want the children to connect the idea that church meant stress and strife. God is different. He invites us to experience His goodness. What’s sweeter than blueberry pancakes topped with whipped cream?  

So, we started filling our house on Sunday mornings with the sweet and savory smells of blueberry pancakes and bacon, and the sweet sounds of worship music, singing, and laughter. It didn’t solve all of our problems, and we didn’t always get to church on time, yet they were life-giving moments that helped shape our thoughts, feelings, and choices.  

You can find hope and healing in this season. Take the next step.

Jon Burchard, MA, Med, EdS, NCC, LPC, founded In Him Christian Wellness in 2016 with the vision of providing faith-based professional mental health and wellness services to all, regardless of ability to pay. In Him focuses on caring for the mind, body, and soul of individuals, couples, and families using a variety of disciplines and therapeutic modalities.  

Jon counsels from a biblical orientation and person-centered approach to help people engage their present context in a healthy manner. He finds great joy in walking with others through their important seasons of life.

Learn More About Jon