The Remedy for Seasonal Sadness

I love the fall season. But I am an emotional chameleon, so the fall also brings me dread as the sun sets sooner and days get colder. I find my mood and motivation dropping in the winter months where the first thing that meets my eyes is the gloom. But God says happiness is so much more than the weather that I wake up to.

I was recently acquainted with this term thanks to Sys Theology study group!

μακάριος “makarios”, meaning fully blessed or happy.

It is used in instances where God is referred to, as well as where people take on God’s values & commands:

• God is blessed (1 Tim 1:11, James 1:17)
• God declaring the poor, meek, suffering as blessed (Matt 5:1–12)
• Declaration of blessedness on doers of God’s word (James 1:25, Rev 22:14, John 20:29, Acts 20:35)
• Blessedness to those who have been redeemed by Christ (Romans 4:7)

“Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

Everything excellent and desirable is found in an infinite measure in God, because He is the source of all good. This can only mean God has makarios completely and perfectly in Himself; including His character, commands and plan.

When we mirror God’s delight in all that is pleasing to Him, He permits us to experience the same fullness of joy and happiness that He finds in those things, as seen in the verses above. This blessedness must be endless and satisfying of every need, corresponding with His nature.

Though it may feel difficult to admit, there are certainly praiseworthy things about days that are cold and dark. God has never left us no matter how dark it gets outside, or even in the darkness of our disobedience. He has never forsaken us no matter how cold the weather is, or even how cold we are to Him. God is always good. The Gospel is always true. Thus, joy does not have to depend on the state of the world around us, and we can always be filled with blessed happiness; so long as we are delighting in God.

As the season is changing, I hope this can be an encouragement to my fellow chameleons. I pray that our joy would come from the perfect Source who never runs out of makarios to give, and that He would give you opportunities to choose joy in God this winter.

Thanks for reading 🥧(^･ω･^=)~