In 1981 the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland identified a medical condition which they named Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This condition is known to bring depression to about 11 million American adults during the winter periods of longer nights and shorter days. Other symptoms of SAD are moodiness, fatigue, excessive sleep or mental cloudiness.

One effective treatment for SAD is increased exposure to bright light. Many SAD sufferers improve within days after sitting in front of a special light box for a couple hours each day. Patients are instructed to light up their life by removing draperies and other obstructions to light when inside more during the winter months, and to get outside in the winter sunshine as often as possible.

The child of God can suffer similar spiritual symptoms to those found in SAD. Though all believers in Christ are "children of light" (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8), some do not "walk in the light" (1 John 1:7), and are given to "sleep" in regards to God's purposes for them in these last days. To walk in the light is to live in happy, healthy fellowship and communion with the Lord, free from unconfessed and active sin, looking for the Lord's soon return.

May every Christian daily apply the proven remedy for his "spiritually" affective disorder—exposure to the wondrous light of God's Word. Every hindrance to keeping oneself in this Light must be removed. Then, the words of the Lord Jesus will be fulfilled in us, "Ye are the light of the world. …Let your light so shine before men" (Matthew 5:14-16).

—Tim Johnson