What Light Therapy Taught Me About Jesus

“Hi. I’m Obadiah and I struggle with seasonal depression.”

 In reality, I struggle with depression and anxiety all the time but it was an article on “seasonal” depression that showed me something was wrong. Up until I read that article I thought everyone had persistent feelings of sadness and irritability. (It’s okay to laugh at that.) The more I read the more I realized I had an issue so I decided to do something about it. 

There are lots of things you can do to help with depressive symptoms that include exercise and proper diet, but seasonal depression has this unique thing that you can do: light therapy. 

 Light therapy is incredibly simple. You get a specially designed light and you sit in front of it. That’s it. Sit in front of the light. No exercise. No special foods. No activity other than keeping your eyes open and pointed in the right direction. 

A boring photo of my very important light therapy lamp in the home office

The most ridiculous thing about light therapy is how hard it is.

Seriously. Try sitting still for twenty minutes. It’s nearly impossible. Between the laundry that needs done and the sink that needs fixed, your list is long. How can you possibly sit still? 

 If you push past your objections and just do it, you notice something: change. It isn’t something that always happens in the moment. I usually stand up from light therapy feeling the same way I did when I sat down. It’s the little moments later in the day where I notice it. Change in attitude. Change in perspective. Sadness lifts. Motivation returns. All from a little time in the light. 

 When I was sitting in front of my lamp this morning, God reminded me that I was designed for light. Jesus is the Light of the World and my soul needs that Light just as badly as my body needs sunlight. 

Be still and know that I am God. 

Psalm 46:10

 No offering. No prayer. No works. Nothing. Be still and KNOW. Bask in God’s light. Just sit there and let that Light shine on you. It’s not a waste of time. It’s the therapeutic light your soul needs to face the rest of the day. 

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