Blue Monday, Fact or Fiction ?

January…is it really the most depressing month of the year? For many of us, it rings true. There has been research conducted worldwide which would support depressive symptoms at record highs during the month of January, regardless of location, climate, socioeconomic situation. It is my opinion that there is something to this whole idea. As we return to work and school after the holidays, there is an automatic let down that the days off and gathering together has come to an end, and a return to the M-F work or school week can create some sadness. Other factors that influence this time of year for many are

• the fact that January is the month that the bills come in for the gifts purchased at Christmas, making January the month of the year when there is less disposable income .

• the fact that in much of the world, the weather in January is unrelenting, either cold or rainy or snowy or a combination of all of the above. Weather and gray skies have long been associated with the blues.

• Add to that the sad truth that there are more relationship breakups or changes in January than in any other month. People do not want to break up, change, or end a relationship just before or during the holidays, so January is that month where many take steps to make changes in their lives, and this often includes relationship changes.

• Finally, there are the New Year’s resolutionaries. We choose January as our start over month, whether it be fitness, or our diet, or weight loss, and creating those new habits pretty much takes up the first 3 weeks of January. Developing those new disciplines in bodies that are resistant can create mood changes. Just being hungry all the time can create mood changes.

Are you feeling depressed yet? Wait, there is more. Many proclaim the third Monday of January as the most depressing day of the year, and have coined it Blue Monday. There are a few articles that posit the first Monday in January when we all return to normal as Blue Monday, but whichever day is truly the most depressing day, it stems from all of the factors listed above.

So, if you have been feeling blue, and it not usual for you, take heart and join the rest of the world for a few weeks of the blues. Understand that while you may be depressed, some of the contributing factors this month are being felt all over the world! What role does faith have in Blue Monday and in the most depressing month of the year? I think that our faith is what sustains us when the blues come, and they will come. Putting your faith and trust in a God who can turn any situation around and always wants you to not lose hope,and to never give up. Lean into Him this month and on Blue Monday. Let Him sustain you. I really like Lamentations 3:21-23,

(Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends !His mercies never cease.23 Great is his faithfulness his mercies begin afresh each morning(NLT)

as a remedy when the blues are threatening my personal outlook. New beginnings and second chances and the gift of each new day…..God’s specialty. Especially in January. Blessings, Susie

 

Interesting links about Blue Monday and January depression:

http://mashable.com/2014/01/06/most-depressing-day-of-the-year/

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/35486637/

 

 

 

by Laura Diamantopoulos

Nehemiah found himself working abroad for the King of Babylon (modern day Iraq). Think of his job as if he was a contractor working for a foreign government, only he had lived overseas his whole life as a Babylonian slave during the Jewish exile from Jerusalem.

This is about 100 years after the first exiles returned to Jerusalem, and the third and fourth generations were rising into positions of authority. These younger generations had not experienced the shock of seeing their holy city in ruin because they had grown up with it – they thought it normal to see the city walls crumbling. To them, their “greatest generation” had built the temple just 70 years earlier! This was no small feat and something that brought pride to the nation of Israel.

Only the Babylonians were still the captors who ruled the Jews as slaves, and as cupbearer to the king, Nehemiah was more than aware of “his place” in the scheme of things.

Family from Israel came to visit Nehemiah and reported on life in a home he hardly knew, and the reports broke his heart. Nehemiah’s relatives told him, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.”

This was a home that maybe he dreamed about. He had built up Jerusalem in his mind’s eye with all sorts of expectations of grandeur and beauty. It may have symbolized hope to him that someday his people would be free again! To hear it was still in such a ruinous state crushed him. Nehemiah wept. He fasted. He prayed. He was moved to action.

Suppose you have family in one of the modern day places destroyed by natural disasters, by poverty or loss of jobs, by environmental injustices or just by the decay of time. Loved ones decide to come to you and complain about the state of their home – the home of your roots and heritage. How would you react?

Would you give a pat reply of, “Oh that’s too bad.” Would you say, “That’s why I moved away!” Do you join in the complaints? Or would you grieve and feel as deeply as Nehemiah? Would you realize that you just might have the means to do something about it?

With these two camps of people – complainers versus fixers – the “fixers” are the ones who have claimed hope in the promises of God. Nehemiah claimed hope and turned into a missionary to his own people. We cannot forget the need as Christians to minister to others within the body who have very real needs. Often these needs hinder worship.

But of course, in claiming hope, we face many battles, and Nehemiah experienced them all. Haters and bullies are nothing new. There are some who live to tear down others, especially as hope is claimed.

Nehemiah’s coworkers mocked and ridiculed those who wanted to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, and it’s hard to say their fears were unfounded. The act of building walls could have been seen in the same light as Western nations see Iran’s pursuit of nuclear power. It’s no surprise that the king’s allies would question the audacious intentions of this slave and wonder if he was promoting rebellion. Nehemiah was in a relatively trusted position as cupbearer, but even so, he was very low on the totem pole when it came to positions of authority.

Nehemiah responded the same way we should when our hearts break – he prayed in all things. He prayed when he received the news and his heart grieved. He prayed during his conversation with the king. He prayed after being taunted and ridiculed by Tobiah and Sanballat. He prayed in response to threats of attack. And he prayed again as the verbal attacks and threats continued. He even prayed as he reflected on his own acts and efforts to serve God.

Nehemiah’s constant prayer reminds us that this lifeline and connection to God is the root of our hope. And as Nehemiah stepped out in obedience to his broken conviction, boldness fostered more hope.

The king never questioned his loyalty but simply asked, “How long will you be gone?” Once he saw the king was happy to support his efforts, Nehemiah boldly stepped out further in faith. He asked for visas and diplomatic immunity. Without blinking or hesitating, he asked for access to the king’s material reserves, requesting for timber for the wall…oh, and for the gates of the citadel attached to the Temple…oh, and for a personal home while everything was under construction. These are pretty audacious and bold requests, but Nehemiah saw he had an ally, a cheerleader, and he wasn’t afraid to enlist the king’s help.   

How often do we lack resources and hesitate to ask from people around us due to some sort of fear, a fear that we allow to swallow our hopes? When we allow fear to injure our faith that God can do what He calls us to do, we risk missing out on some of the most amazing blessings.

I pray that in 2014, you find boldness in hope and claim the blessings God has set aside, just for you! I pray that we at Journey to Hope are your cheerleaders and prayer warriors who help the seeds of hope blossom into beautiful bouquets that bring confidence in planting more seeds of hope in your life!

Laura

(Nehemiah 1 - 2)