CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 999

“Holiday Blues”

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. (Psalm 3:3)

Have you ever had a song pop in your head that you could not shake loose? Recently It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams got stuck in my memory during my prayer devotional time.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With those kids jingle belling, and everyone telling you, “Be of good cheer,” It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s the hap-happiest season of all…

It dawned on me that for many people suffering from the holiday blues that this is not the ‘hap-happiest season of all’. The last thing these people need to hear is to ‘be of good cheer’.

There are numerous root causes of holiday depression. Just the pressure to ‘be happy’ can be a trigger to deepen one’s depression. Others who are lonely have these feelings magnified during the season where the emphasis is on happy family gatherings and togetherness. Think of our service men and women deployed overseas during this time of year. I recall volunteering for extra duty on Christmas Eve when I was deployed in order to cope with the feelings of loneliness. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

Many who suffer the blues during November and December have experienced a traumatic, life-changing loss during this season sometime in their past. This is something they never forget and it is brought to their remembrance again every year. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phillippians 4:8)

If you know someone affected by the Christmas Blues be there for them. Pray for and with them. Let them talk and be a good listener – don’t try to ‘fix’ it. Engage them to be a part of celebration events but do not force them or make them feel guilty if they decline.

If you are one of the many that suffer from the holiday blues there are several suggested coping mechanisms you can try beginning with prayer and meditating on the Word of God. I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. (Psalm 40:1-3)

Choose not to isolate yourself but to engage in the celebration with others. Volunteering to help those who are in need during this time of year is a double blessing for those you help as well as for yourself. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

May the Lord be with you and strengthen, help and uphold you with His righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)