gloomy days - Loved, chosen, & empowered

Beauty for Our Gloomiest Days

Heading out into the rain to run errands is never my idea of a good time. But the weather doesn’t care when the milk and bread are gone. A few weeks ago, I loaded up my five-year-old and started out with a few stops planned. At the third store, though, my van wouldn’t start. Two hours and the cost of a new battery later, we finally finished our trip, soggy and tired and grumpy. It was difficult to see the good in the situation.

Do you find overcast skies to be downers? This time of year, at least in middle Tennessee, we experience plenty of gray days. And I will be honest. They make it hard to get motivated–whether for shopping or anything else.

Maybe it’s because I grew up listening to the Carpenters singing about “Rainy Days and Mondays,” but probably it’s just human nature. There’s something to be said for the Vitamin D sunshine brings to our lives.

And dreary conditions are just that–Dreary. So many of my Facebook memories say something like, “This weather has me wishing I could just stay in with a cup of tea and a good book.”

Are we completely depressed now? I hope not.

Have you ever gotten up at just the right moment to see the sunrise? Or sat still long enough to see it set? The artist in me loves to watch how God colors the horizon differently every night.

Scripture states, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1, ESV).

God’s been painting for a long time. He’s good at it.

Have you noticed on partly cloudy mornings or evenings, the hues appear more intense? They’re reflected off more surfaces, literally streaking the sky with colors.

The clouds actually make the sunrise or sunset more beautiful.

See where I’m going?

We all have overcast seasons, physically and spiritually. My workload picked up quite a bit this last year, which is a good thing, because it means I’m getting more stories published. But, that also means my editing and marketing increased. And those tasks are … well, draining though necessary.

The extra stress has definitely clouded my attitude. However, after struggling through the rough times, the sun shone through the grays and lit the darkness, shooting colors every which way across my life. Through readers telling me how much they enjoyed a story, or seeing a nice review come through, or having someone ask if I have any other books coming out because they want to read more. It’s encouraging.

In my earlier story, when my car broke down, a friend came to my rescue. We shared a ton of laughter trying to figure out where to attach the cables on these particular vehicles. Our interaction provided a silver-lining in a potentially rotten situation.

Just like a gorgeous sunset reminds us that clouds aren’t all bad.

Life is full of gloomy moments, but that doesn’t mean it’s only dreary. Even the grayest sky shows color somewhere—in a rainbow or sunrise. God never promised us only sunshine. But He did say He’d be there through everything, including the rain—and edits.

So, I find I can’t completely hate overcast days. Because with the clouds comes a beautiful reminder of His presence and promises. Just like He sent me those sweet comments from readers. And my friend with jumper cables and laughter.

What ways has God reminded you of His love and faithfulness lately?

Get to Know Amy!

Author of An Unexpected Legacy, Faith and Hope, and Saving Grace

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Follow her at aBitofAnguish or on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about her books on Pinterest and check out the YouTube channel she does with two other authors, Once Upon a Page.

Check Out Her Latest story, Mistletoe Make-believe, found in Candy Cane Wishes and Saltwater Dreams:

Charlie Hill’s family thinks his daughter Hailey needs a mom—to the point they won’t get off his back until he finds her one. Desperate to be free from their nagging, he asks a stranger to pretend she’s his girlfriend during the holidays.

Cover image for Candy Cane Wishes & Saltwater Dreams.

When romance author Samantha Arwine takes a working vacation to St. Simons Island over Christmas, she never dreamed she’d be involved in a real-life romance. Are the sparks between her and Charlie real? Or is it just her imagination?

Find it HERE.

Before you go, make sure to check out the latest Your Daily Bible Verse podcast episodes, hosted by Grace Fox and I.

God Wants to Take You From Mourning to Dancing (Psalm 30:11) – Your Daily Bible Verse

Today’s Bible Verse: "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy." — Psalm 30:11 Psalm 30:11 is a beautiful picture of God's power to bring restoration and joy after seasons of sorrow. David remembers a time of deep distress and testifies that God did not leave him there. The Lord transformed mourning into celebration and exchanged grief for joy. This episode explores the hope found in God's restoring work. Pain, loss, and hardship are real, and Scripture never asks us to pretend otherwise. Yet Psalm 30 reminds us that sorrow does not have the final word. God is able to heal wounded hearts, renew weary spirits, and bring joy that rises from His presence rather than from changing circumstances. “Want to listen without ads? Become a BibleStudyTools.com PLUS Member today: https://www.biblestudytools.com/subscribe/ MEET YOUR HOST: Chaka Heinze at https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Chaka Heinze is a writer, speaker, and lover of the Bible. She is actively involved in her local church on the Prayer and Healing team and mentors young women seeking deeper relationships with God.After personally experiencing God's love and compassion following the loss of her eleven-year-old son, Landen, Chaka delights in testifying to others about God's unfathomable and transformative love that permeates even the most difficult circumstances.Chaka and her husband of twenty-six years have five children ranging from adult age to preschool. Trained as an attorney, she’s had the privilege of mitigating sibling disputes for twenty-plus years.Follow her on Chakaheinze.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

And the latest episode of the Faith Over Fear podcast:

Why We Lose Ourselves in Relationships—and How to Find Our Way Back – Faith Over Fear

In this opening episode of our new Faith Over Fear series, Relational Peace: Loving Others Without Losing Yourself, Carol sits down with Bible teacher and author Becky Harling for an honest conversation about the subtle ways we lose ourselves inside relationships. Together, they explore how fear, people-pleasing, overfunctioning, and the pressure to keep everyone happy can quietly erode our peace, identity, and emotional health. Becky shares practical wisdom on boundaries, friendship, emotional dependency, and how Jesus modeled deep love without losing Himself in the process. If you’ve ever felt exhausted from carrying everyone else’s emotions or guilty for needing rest, this episode offers biblical encouragement and practical next steps toward healthier, Christ-centered relationships. In This Episode, learn: Why people-pleasing is often fear in disguise The difference between healthy love and self-erasure How Jesus modeled boundaries and emotional health Signs you may be losing yourself in relationships Why Christian women and men especially struggle with overextending What healthy friendships actually look like Practical tools for saying no without guilt How to love others without carrying their emotional weight Scripture References Mark 1:35–38 Proverbs 4:23 John 2:24 Ephesians 2:10 I think I got them all? Key TakeawayHealthy relationships are not built on fear, guilt, or emotional exhaustion. They’re built on truth, grace, wisdom, honesty, and an identity firmly rooted in Christ. Find Becky Harling: On her website On Facebook On Instagram On Amazon Find Carol McCracken: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.