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There are days, and sometimes weeks, when disappointing circumstances can seem overwhelming. You feel like you're barely keeping your emotional head above the water, and then you see a giant wave approaching.

I know that winter is hard. I know it’s long in Chicago, and there isn’t much for us to do outside when it’s cold here. I also know that seasonal depression is a real thing.

My friend Billie, director of Africans Reaching Africa, painted this picture for me: “Imagine you lived in the South at the end of the Civil War, and you were told that your Confederate currency was about to be invalidated, but you could exchange it for U.S. legal tender if you did right away, before it was canceled.”

I was struck at the bank when I noticed the vault was open and unattended, yet I was filling out a deposit slip with a pen that was chained to the counter. Doesn’t that seem ironic to you?

Timanthes was an aspiring Greek artist in the 4th century BC. While studying under a tutor, he was nearing completion of a major painting. Upon arriving in the morning, he found the canvas blotted out with paint. Enraged, he confronted his teacher, who acknowledged destroying his artwork. He said, “You were spending so much time admiring what you had done that you were no longer improving. This was a great painting for some, but not for you. You can do much better.”

It’s impossible to prepare well for the future without reviewing and learning from the past. 2025 might have been a great year for you, or a horrible year. But whether or not it has a positive impact on your future depends on how you bring it to a close. God wants to do some special things for you and through you this next year. But first, He wants you to see how He’s done that this last year.

Seattle experienced flash flooding this week, with water overwhelming levees, resulting in deep flooding on the streets. Some people had to be rescued off the roofs of their cars. One man ignored multiple flood warning signs and drove past road-closure signs. He lost control in the deep water on the street and slid into six feet of water in a ditch. Sadly, he drowned in his car. I knew a guy who ignored tightness in his chest, shooting pain in his left arm, and lightheadednes

Last week I blogged on holiday stress and gave you a three-step plan of attack to deal with it. This week, I came across a study released by Mayo Clinic and authored by Amit Sood, a Mayo stress-reduction expert. Sometimes the world gets it right. This study was just raw science with a bit of pop psychology thrown in. It’s been referred to in news programs and other articles as a help for people to enjoy the holidays.

The trees are up, lights are lit…Christmas season is here! It’s supposed to be a wonderful time of the year. So how come you are so stressed? You can be at peace this Christmas and you can find that peace now, so that you actually enjoy Christmas this year. And it’s not complicated. I’ve got three simple steps for you.