Joy and Depression

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).”

At my wellness appointment, the doctor asked me if I was depressed or showed any signs of depression lately. This question is now standard but reminded me of the craziness of the season. October has always seemed to be a low month for me, one where I could easily be depressed if I

did not take steps against it. The days are getting shorter as we enter fall and get closer to winter. Halloween comes at the end of the month and many horror films seems to come out around this time to honor the holiday. It is the month before elections and this year we have a big presidential election with many political ads and conflict abounds. We are also still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and entering the feared flu season. With all this darkness, conflict and dreariness surrounding us, it is necessary to seek out joy, thankfulness, and hope.

Joy is the opposite of sorrow. It allows us to find ways to be happy, laugh and have some fun. What activities bring you joy in life? Perhaps we need to turn off the TV, laptops, and cell phones to take time to do what we enjoy. Watch a comedy that allows you to laugh and let loose some of the tension, read comic strips – whatever makes you laugh and brings you joy.

Hope gives us reasons to move forward in life believing that the best is yet to come. We will survive this season – Spring comes after winter. Days will then get longer, and we will again enjoy the sunshine. Soon, the elections will be over and the non-stop campaign ads will go away. Soon a vaccin

e will be created to deal with COVID-19, and we can get back to work and kids will return to school.

As we near the holiday of Thanksgiving, we are reminded to stop and take time out to be thankful for what God has done in our lives. We can be thankful for our families, jobs, and homes. And even if we lose these things, we can be thankful for Jesus who remains with us and walks us through these tough times. Celebrate the amazing things God has done for you and your family over the years – as you name them and thank God for them, you will remind yourself there is hope for tomorrow. God has been there for you in the past and He will do it again in the future!

May you find joy, peace, and hope despite the craziness around you. As people discuss conflicts, doom, and gloom, remember that God loves you and is there with you. So, let’s rejoice and bring back the joy!