The most shocking thing no one told me before moving to Germany is that it’s dark in winter and the sun is “up” until 10–11 PM during the summer. The winter now drawing to a close is the darkest in recorded history to date. Maybe simply because I had a new baby, or because my husband was deployed, or because I’m away from family, this winter was also challenging emotionally and spiritually.

This week, the sunshine has returned, and I have insisted on soaking it up—taking the kids for a walk up the hill and back down. Not only does the sunshine make me feel better, but the walking does, too, AND I’m more capable of doing this steep walk than I have been in a long time.

Numerous Scriptures contain images of light and darkness. This winter has reminded me of a few things:

1. Darkness is followed by light. Not just in the evening and morning or winter and spring, but in getting through the storms of life as well. Trials and suffering do not have the final word. “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Ultimately, God promises a time when “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).

2. The sun (or Son) is always shining, even when one cannot see or feel the presence of Light. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), and God has promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

3. Even in the darkest of times, some light can be found. I enjoyed the average of only 96 hours of sunshine this winter. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

4. Perspective matters. The easy response is to look at the cloudy gloom and stay under the covers. The more challenging action is to face the day and be a light to those around you. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world,” and told His followers to “let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:14–16).

I have a built-in defense against staying in bed all day: children. Once my son is up, he is up until bedtime. He requires food and a certain amount of entertainment/activity during the day. He also changes the way I look at things.

One of the first snows we had (in Colorado) after he developed some verbal skills, he called the snowflakes “bubbles” and was thrilled watching them fall and clump together from our window. Even though he knows words like “snowflake” now, he still finds a calm joy in watching the snow from the window as it falls.

My favorite part of snow is the way everything is covered in white, making it appear clean and pure—another analogy for God’s grace and the blood of Jesus covering our sins and making us holy. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).

Even though this week of sunshine is forecasted to end with more rain and snow, I know the Son still shines. My job is to keep reflecting that Light, even in the darkest times.