The Optimist’s Roundtable

By Martha Sykes

Here we are going in to another season, and the leaves seem to have changed in a week’s time. It sure has been beautiful to see the sun glistening on the trees . Makes us all realize the beauty that God showers us with every fall.

Along with that change comes fewer hours of light in our day and soon we will be turning back our clocks. I have known people who suffer from seasonal depression due to the days becoming shorter and we have less daylight.

It is a real disorder that many people suffer from every year at this time. Doctors actually have suggested purchasing a SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamp, which imitates natural sunlight and helps people feel more alive during the dreary winter months.

Isn’t that interesting?

In that same way, God’s light can shine brightly upon us to help alleviate the symptoms that people have from depression or sickness in any form. Throughout the scriptures there are many references to Jesus being the light of the world. In the book of Isaiah 60:19, it says

“The sun will no longer be your light by day, nor will the moon shine for illumination by night. The Lord will be your everlasting light; your God will be your glory.”

The prophet Isaiah refused to allow the people of Israel to pity themselves, but he wanted them to lift themselves up emotionally and spiritually to overcome their despair. He hoped they would realize that the brightness and splendor of God’s glory would shine through.

Season after season, we serve a faithful God, who never forgets or forsakes us. I think that’s why God sends us snow so it brightens up the dreariness of winter. God will forever light our way with the glory of His presence in so many forms, which outshines any other form of light in our lives that can scatter the darkness and gloom of this world.