20th January was identified as Blue Monday. It was the Monday of the third week of the new year which is associated with high suicide rates as people fail to come to terms with a cold January, the arrival of Christmas credit card bills, the distance from the arrival of Spring, and much more. All of us, to a greater or lesser extent, experience highs and lows that are often associated with external factors that we cannot control. Our greatest safeguard against such things is endeavouring to keep our own mental wellbeing in good order so that we build resilience into ourselves. This is not always easy as we are complex beings each with our own set of triggers that can take us in all kinds of directions.

To help us, God gives us His peace. Philippians 4:7 says, ‘And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ This verse is given in the context of dealing with anxiety. The peace of God is his gift to us. I pray that in these days you will be filled with the peace of God so that you are able to overcome the anxieties and stresses of the season.

God Bless, Richard