Winter is coming…

Autumn is in full flow and my children couldn't be more delighted: The dying sun sits ever lower in the sky, the "fire tree" along our road is ablaze with yellow and orange, conkers and acorns provide endless entertainment, and toes plunged deep into fleece-lined boots elicit exclamations of joy and comfort.

But I am mourning the change. Because with every sign of Autumn's awakening I am reminded of the death of summer, and the nearness of a much less enjoyable season—winter.

From as early as mid-August I have traced the changing light and the anxiety that has sat dormant in my stomach over the long summer days comes alive again at the thought of winter’s approaching. I dread the cold, dark, unrelenting presence of winter that forces activities inside, that limits daylight and will, I fear, affect my mood and motivation. And every year it's the same.

Every year as the light begins to change, fear replaces hope, and mood-changing darkness begins to affect my joy.

Now I know I'm not alone in my wintry wasteland: Apart from others I know who struggle in the same way, traditionally “winter” is a word heavy laden with negative emotional connotations. It is a season used throughout literature to convey hopelessness, despair, emptiness, darkness and death. Similarly, for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere winter is a symbol powerfully connected in with short days, darkness, isolation, frustration, and low mood.

But interestingly the Bible has something very different to say about winter. And praise God that it does, because the Bible both acknowledges the difficulties that the winter months can hold but also reminds us of the One from whose hand the winter comes.

The Bible both acknowledges the difficulties that the winter months can hold but also reminds us of the One from whose hand the winter comes.

The books of Psalms and Job powerfully describe God as the maker and controller of all the seasons we experience on earth, including winter. And the portrayal of God's powerful influence in the season of winter is something to behold. “[God] says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour’’" (Job 37 v 6).

Similarly, in the Psalms God is described as hurling "down hail like pebbles … He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow” (Psalm 147 v 17-18).

Our Father is in the weather, controlling it by his mighty hand. And there is strength and purpose in that. All of it is ordained by him, controlled by him, and all of it is an outworking of his grace.

He is in the cold, dark mornings when it seems that the sun has forgotten to rise. He is in the finger-biting chill, the howling wind, and the driving rain. And for that we can give thanks.

Now I'm fully aware of the difficulty of looking at a cold, wet dark day and thanking God for his provision in it: thanking God for rainbows and sunshine just seems so much easier. And so it is reassuring to know that the Bible is not dismissive of the difficulties of wintertime. There are several exhortations in the New Testament such as: "do your best to get here before winter" (2 Timothy 4 v 21), or: "pray that this will not take place in winter" (Mark 13 v 18).

This is a helpful reminder that winter is, and always has been, difficult to endure—be that physically or emotionally. It provides challenges that will change habits we rely on at every other time of the year, and for the most vulnerable amongst us it can bring with it frustration and isolation.

So while we may be mourning the loss of British summer-time, bemoaning darker evenings, and the onset of inclement weather, how can we approach this unwelcome change of season with strength and confidence? Not succumbing to the mood-changing darkness, but seeing it as an opportunity to give thanks to the creator of seasons, and to reach out to others?

A few ideas for chasing the darkness away…

1. Give thanks

It's hard to read the Bible's descriptions of God's hand in the seasons without it awakening awe for the Creator. Read these epic passages, speak them out loud, share them with your children, and search for the blessing in them.

2. Go outside

Invest in outdoor gear for every season and get out there! Often a warm, comfy sofa feels more inviting, but getting outside will refresh your mind and your spirit when the weather closes in.

3. Help others

There will be those around you for whom the change of season will bring many obstacles—elderly family and neighbours, those with small children, or those struggling with illness. Perhaps you could help them feel less isolated by dropping round a meal, offering to do some shopping, or inviting them into your home?

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." (Ecclesiastes 3 v 1)