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The seasons change, the sun stops shining, the snow piles up, and the festivities begin, still you don’t feel like celebrating. There was a time in your life that you could hardly wait for the holidays to start, but today you find yourself sad and depressed with no clue as to why you’re feeling that way. The winter blues is why!
Yes, the winter blues is a real thing. The phrase may be casually thrown around a lot in this season, but there’s actually nothing casual about it. The professional term for ‘winter blues’ is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a real mental illness that anyone can experience and the symptoms can be overwhelming. Depression, anxiety, loss of energy, changes in appetite, and suicidal thoughts are just some of the symptoms you may go through when dealing with this disorder, so it should not be taken lightly.
Related post: 10 Bible Verse To Pray When You Are Suffering from Depression
The bad news is that mental illness increases in winter and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. The good news is that God is with you and with Him you can get through anything, including the way you feel this winter season.
In this post, we will explore:
The Biblical Meaning of Winter
What Does Snow Symbolize In The Bible?
Winter Bible Verses
How Winter Can Remind Us Of God
Biblical Meaning Of Winter
Winter translated into Hebrew is choreph, from charaph, which means to inundate or overflow. When suffering from mental illness, you may feel inundated and overwhelmed by your problems, especially during winter, but remember that nothing God does, is for nothing.
The snow and rain attached to the season are needed for your growth. You’ll grow deep roots in this season and go into the next one a lot stronger than you could ever imagine.
Pin ItWhat Does Snow Symbolize In The Bible?
In the Bible, snow symbolizes purity. This is confirmed in a couple of scriptures.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. - Psalms 51:7 (KJV)
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. - Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean - Job 9:30 (KJV).
The most common use of snow in the Bible is to describe how white something is, but it still implies purity as well:
“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. - Daniel 7:9 (NIV)
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. - Matthew 28:3 (NIV)
And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. - Mark 9:3 (KJV)
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire - Revelation 1:14 (NIV)
Bible Verses About Winter
A quick search of the King James Version yields only 15 verses that mention the word "winter." Below you will find our pick to for the top encouraging Bible verses about winter.
You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter. - Psalm 74:17 (NKJV)
For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. - Song of Solomon 2:11 (NKJV)
Out of the south comes the storm, And out of the north the cold. From the breath of God ice is made, And the expanse of the waters is frozen. - Job 37:9-10 (NKJV)
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. - Genesis 8:22 (NKJV)
For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’ He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work. - Job 37:6-7 (NKJV)
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, But water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. - Isaiah 55:10-11 (NKJV)
How Winter Can Remind Us Of God In The Bible
Winter is often associated with cold, darkness, and stillness, and these elements can be used to reflect on spiritual themes found in the Bible including God's glory.
1. God’s Grace Covers Everyone
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:8
Looking out the window and seeing everything covered in snow can be daunting for some and amazing for others. If looking at the snow makes you feel overwhelmed, try looking at it with a beautiful thought. Think about how God’s grace covers all His people exactly how the snow has covered all the things.
You are covered by His grace and just like you’re not seeing any imperfections under the snow right now, when you’re covered by His grace, He’s not seeing the imperfections in you.
If you’re going to let anything overwhelm you today, let it be gratitude for His grace.
2. Christ Jesus Makes Us White As Snow
“Come now, let’s settle this,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them as white as wool.
There’s no denying that we are all sinners. Even when we try our hardest not to sin we still end up sinning. We’re human and this is always going to happen but there’s still good news.
Christ Jesus makes us white as snow. He purifies us, He makes us clean, and then He forgets how dirty we once were. So if you’re beating yourself up about something you did in the past, pause and think about the fact that Jesus has made you white as snow.
It’s time to chin up and move forward in faith.
3. Snowflakes Reminds Us that God Made Us One of A Kind
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Comparison is the thief of all joy, so if you’re comparing yourself to others this holiday, it’s time to stop. God has made you different on purpose.
You are not supposed to look like them, act like them, or feel like them.
Just like God made every snowflake unique, He made every human unique too. You are one of a kind, no one is like you, and that’s a good thing. You’re different for a reason, own it.
4. Snow Reminds Us To Build Each Other Up
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
One of the best things about winter, especially when we were kids, was the opportunity to build a snowman. If you have kids now, watching them all excited to build in the snow must be an amazing sight.
It’s wonderful to watch people build things up instead of breaking them down and helping each other build a snowman in winter reminds us of that. It reminds us that God wants us to build each other up.
Reach out to someone with a word of encouragement today, so many people need it, especially in this cold, hard season.
5. Snow Reminds Us to Follow in the Steps of Other Christians
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I Corinthians 11:1
One of the biggest problems with snow, especially when there’s a lot of it, is that it covers the entire road. If this is not dealt with quickly it becomes very easy for us to lose direction.
Thankfully, if that happens we can ask the people who’ve lived in the area longer than us for some help. Some people have seen what’s under the snow for so long and so often that they’ve memorized the way.
In the same way, if we feel lost as Christians or if the winter blues are hitting us much harder than we expected, we can follow in the footsteps of other Christians.
6. Just Like winter, God’s Word Always Accomplishes its Purpose
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Winter has a purpose, the snow and the rainfall experienced in this season are exactly what the trees and plants need to blossom in spring. Winter prepares the way for growth.
We see winter’s purpose accomplished in spring because the fact is that without the winter being as gloomy as it is, spring would not be as beautiful as it is.
God’s Word is the same, we may not understand it all now, but as we read it and as we hear it, our hearts become prepared to do His will. We become more committed to our purpose.
Final Thoughts Regarding How The Bible Can Help Us Get Through Winter
Remember, no matter how sad, depressed or anxious you feel right now, you can get through the winter season with God. He is with you, He is for you, He will lead you to the right people and resources, and He will heal you.
The warmth of His love and grace is all you really need to make it through winter. If you are looking for additional resources or support for yourself or a child you know about getting through winter with God, check out the below winter related devotionals:
Winter Season of Faith: 31 Day Devotional
Glimpses of God: a winter devotional for womenGod And Snow: 5 Lessons That Snow Teaches About God
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About the Author:
Corine Williams, Ph.D. is Clinical Psychologist that is currently seeing clients in the States of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. You can find out more about her practice by visiting www.therapyforchristians.com/corinewilliams. In addition to providing individual therapy, Dr. Williams is also passionate about writing books and designing merchandise that educate, uplift, and normalize mental health subject in the Christian community. You can find out more about her at www.booksbycorine.com or by visiting her amazon profile here: https://www.amazon.com/Corine-Hyman/e/B00AWZ5FL2
Help us increase mental health awareness in the Christian community by donating through our paypal link here: www.paypal.com/therapyforchristians, joining our mailing list by clicking below, or join our provider list here: Provider listing
Disclaimer: the information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are looking for a Christian counselor near you, please check out our directory located here: Christians Therapist Near Me
