Will the Gloom Ever Go?

As I write this letter the snow is gently falling outside my window, the sky is grey with heaviness, it’s cold and the Christmas festivities are over, and life does seem a little dull. It’s just that time of the year some would say!

Is that really true for the Christian? I can’t say that Christians do not at times experience feeling somewhat gloomy. However, is there not for us the sheer joy of having Christ to illumine our lives, to bring cheer to our hearts? Yes of course there is, but it’s so easy to allow the feelings of others and world situations to blot out the sunshine of Jesus in our lives. After all, like those who do not know Christ, we must also face the winter, the war (impending), the weariness. But surely it’s how we face them that really makes the difference. And that depends on our relationship with Christ and our trust in Him. Paul writes of his ‘gloomy days’ like this, “dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing and yet possessing everything.” (2 Cor 6:9-10) So even on his ‘gloomy days’ he found there was a purpose for his life and a ray of sunshine, the sunshine which is his Lord Jesus.

How then can Jesus become for us the ray of sunshine on dark days? If you want a light to light a room you switch it on, if you want a torch to light your path you need to switch it on. And the moment you flick the switch, light floods in and with it gloom, fear and isolation swiftly disappear. There is no need to switch Jesus on, but rather we need to be switched onto (or into) Him ourselves. Yes as always it comes back to our commitment to Him. For he is always faithful, waiting for our prayer for mercy, grace, or help. But when we are truly committed to Him through His Word and prayer, every page illuminated by prayer gives glorious light to the day, to the gloom of world or home situations.

One of my favourite hymns says:
There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light.

Will the gloom ever go? Yes, when I allow Jesus to be the light to illumine my soul and spirit, my life. “In Him [Jesus] was life and that life was the light of men” John 1:4 May He be for us our light and our life.