The first month of the New Year, and a new decade, is coming to a close.
Recently, Brandon and I read that January 24th is deemed, by English psychologist Dr. Cliff Arnall, as “the most depressing day of the year.”* We read this right out the gate of our Friday, January 24th during our morning devotional. Even if there had been some sunshine, which there wasn’t, the subject-matter alone set a tone.
The variables named in making this determination certainly explain how an individual could slip into some gloomy emotions by the end of January.
By the 24th we are a month out from all the beautiful Christmas festivities. Credit card bills are rolling in at that point which, depending on some passionate shoppers, has the potential to put a damper on a January day. Others are facing feelings of failure having given up on that admirable New Year’s resolution. Then factor in the lack of sunlight. Round about the time of year our daylight significantly decreases, we’re typically gearing up to string lights inside and outside our homes. However, by January, the lights are down, or at least turned off, lending to a greater awareness of darkness. It can literally affect our health and frame-of-mind. Millions of Americans encounter seasonal depression, or properly referred to as seasonal affective disorder. We have a basic need for light. Our physical bodies need light, and the emotions of our hearts need light.
The thing is, as we live life, we consistently encounter circumstances which work to dimmer that light leaving us feeling like we’re walking a constant Dr. Arnall January 24th Day.
I get it.
It’s actually how I was feeling through what is regarded as the happiest time of the year. The lights. The gifts. The festivities. The food. The fun. The gatherings. None made much of a difference. It may as well have already been January. It certainly felt like it.
The year had been dreadful. There were so many heavy needs—people who faced sickness and disease who weren’t healed; individuals who were required to walk emotionally painful paths; deteriorating relationships with no shift of direction, change, growth, or development. Many people I love faced overwhelming tragic loss. It was impossible to not connect my own experiences with grief as I earnestly prayed for supernatural comfort over them.
It sounds like darkness, doesn’t it? Utter complete darkness. Dr. Arnall January 24th Day kind of darkness.
But you know what? It wasn’t.
What?!?! Did I really just share those needs with you and then say that it wasn’t complete utter darkness?!
Yep. I did.
Because although there were undoubtedly emotionally heavy loads, of greater portion than one individual could carry; although there was surely darkness, and understandably depressing feelings, there was Light shining into it.
There were so many beautiful moments of 2019. So many. It took some scrolling through my social media posts to remind myself of that, because as we all know, we generally reserve the highlights of our day to share with our social media community. But sometimes, we ourselves might need to revisit our year’s activity to see what goodness was tucked into the day-to-day moments.
This prompted me to consider a word for my 2020. A word of intention to focus on the abiding Light in my life. Please come back and join me for the next nugget my heart is nudged to share with you.
In the meantime, in the midst of your painful place, in the weariness of your personal battle, in the heaviness of the needs surrounding you, know the Light of hope shining into each and every single gloomy day. Even the Dr. Arnall January 24th Days.
The Gate of the Year by Minnie Louise Haskins, 1908*:
I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
“Give me light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied, “Go into darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
John 1:5 ESV The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
I Peter 2:9 ESV But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
*Reference: Moments with You by Dennis & Barbara Rainey, 2007
