I’ll be honest right from the start. I usually reach a point during the winter months when my level of joy feels quite low. I’m not sure I’d categorize it as seasonal depression, but for me it’s more like a case of the winter blues.
My winter blues typically creep in during February and March. The excitement of the holidays have passed, it’s too cold and icy to take my baby for a walk, and many days lack that spring and summer sunshine. That’s about the time I begin to struggle with the season of winter.
Last winter I began to intentionally work on my winter blues. I went into winter knowing that there may come a point of struggle, but rather than giving into it I wanted to take it head on and make changes. So I did.
I went into winter striving to find meaning in it rather than wishing it away. I believe our Heavenly Father created it for a purpose, so I want to thrive in this crisp season. That being said, I knew winter would not magically change into something I love with utmost enthusiasm. Winter blues are a real thing that I battle every year, so I need to remain as equipped as I can be.
May you take the verses you read here, pray them over yourself, discuss them with loved ones, and begin to take steps towards growth. I’ve also listed a few more encouragement posts, rooted in Scripture, at the very end of this entry.
I should probably add a disclaimer here…I am no doctor and will not pretend to know anything about the intricacies of seasonal depression. This is in no way a form of medical advice. This blog post is simply from a human striving to provide a source of comfort and joy for a common struggle. Please use this as you see fit and seek further medical help elsewhere if needed.
10 Bible Verses for Seasonal Depression
1.
“Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones.”
Isaiah 49:13
2.
“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”
Psalm 62:5-8
3.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:11
4.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Psalm 17:22
5.
While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.”
Genesis 8:22
6.
“The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.”
Isaiah 55:10
7.
You set up all the boundaries of the earth; you created the cycle of summer and winter.”
Psalm 74:17
8.
“For to the snow he says, ‘Fall to earth,’ and to the torrential rains, ‘Pour down.’ He causes everyone to stop working so that all people may know his work. The wild animals go to their lairs, and in their dens, they remain. A tempest blows out from its chamber, icy cold from the driving winds. The breath of God produces ice, and the breadth of the waters freeze solid.”
Job 37:6-10
9.
“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
Psalm 34:17-20
10.
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.”
Psalm 40:1-3
Scripture discusses joy, seasons, winter, and comfort so many more times than I’ve listed here, so I encourage you to read the Bible and find more hope for yourself. Please also read each of these verses in your own Bible so that you may gain context for why they exist and have power in your life. There is power in the Word of God over all things, including this battle of seasonal depression.
Find More Encouragement:
- 10 Bible Verses for Christmas
- Thriving Despite Winter Blues
- The Unrivaled Power of Prayer
- Be in God’s Stride
- Bible Verses for Joylessness
- Joy in Winter