COLUMN: Feeling spiritually alone?

It’s the middle of January. Christmas is over and the bills are due.  New Year is well on its way and some of our resolutions have already fallen.  We leave for work in the morning and it is dark, we get home at night and the sun is already setting.  And for some people it is all they can do to keep going.
The doctors call it S.A.D., Seasonal Affective Disorder.  It can be a mild or severe depression brought on in part by a lack of bright light. Some doctors even prescribe light therapy and you can go online and buy special lights that are supposed to help.
Personally I suggest simply getting out into the light of day whenever you can!  Most of us work in offices or factories or classrooms under artificial lights all day, get out during your lunch break, take a walk, stand at a window when the sun is shining.  Breathe in a little fresh air and take advantage of the nice days we do get.  Let the light shine on you!
As Christians, we have a similar disorder, our S.A.D. is a Spiritually Alone Disorder.  We fight the good fight, we battle with sin, we try to show the love of God, but we get weary and tired.  Sometimes we get depressed and feel all alone in our daily lives.
We feel that way because we have forgotten to let the light shine on our lives daily.  Over time our prayer life dwindles, we read the Bible less, we may even skip church too often.  And we try to do it all on our own, as if God ever asked us to do that.
So for our personal physical and mental health we need to let the light shine on us.  And for our spiritual health we need to let Jesus’ light shine on us.  Open the window of God’s word and find refreshment there.  Pour your heart out to God and let him carry your burdens.  Go to church this Sunday and sing, praise and pray together with God’s saints.
Let God and his word be the lamp to your feet and the light for your path. (Ps 119:105)  When we let him shine in our lives, he restores our souls and refreshes our spirits.  I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I need a little refreshing. Let’s start today.