Light in the Longer Nights

There are seasons when the days grow short and the light feels thin. The mornings arrive slowly, and so do we. If you’ve ever felt the heaviness that can settle in during darker months, you’re not alone—and you’re not lacking in faith.

Scripture never denies the reality of emotional winters. Elijah, after witnessing God’s power on Mount Carmel, later asked the Lord to take his life (1 Kings 19). David wrote psalms from caves, from hiding, from exhaustion. Even creation itself moves in seasons of dormancy. Winter is not failure. It is a rhythm.

Seasonal depression can make joy feel distant and motivation scarce.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Notice the nearness. God does not stand at a distance waiting for us to feel better. He draws close in the dim light.

The shorter days may invite us into a quieter faith—not the triumphant kind, but the faithful kind. The kind that lights a candle when the sun sets early. The kind that prays simple prayers: Lord, sustain me today. The kind that receives help—from community, from wise counsel, from the small disciplines that steady the body and mind—as grace rather than weakness.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Light does not eliminate night; it shines within it. Even in seasons when warmth feels absent, the Light has not withdrawn.

If this is a heavy season for you, may you remember: winter is not the whole story. Roots grow deep in unseen places. And the God who set the sun and stars in motion is faithful through every cycle.

Spring always comes.