"When Jesus shows his smiling face, there is sunshine in my soul."

Ken Corbett - "Christ Smiling"

Hymn: “Sunshine in My Soul” – Eliza E. Hewitt (1851-1920)
Tune: SUNSHINE

At this time of year when in much of the country the weather outside is frightful, skies are overcast, and record lows are being chronicled, it just seems appropriate to use this hymnline that closes the refrain of one of those good old toe-tapping gospel songs.

Many of us suffer from depression at differing levels. Fortunately, for most of us this downheartedness is shallow and short-lived; for others – even strong Christians – melancholy may be a daily state of being. Some live in darker shades of gray. This is not something to take lightly. Our response should never be flippant or unconcerned; “just get over it” should not be our attitude. Honest, non-condescending encouragement is probably our best approach.

For those of us who are not at those deepest depths of despair, turning our eyes upon Jesus may be just the thing to return brightness to our gloom – to trade sunshine for our darkness. So often in our grasping for a glimmer of hope, the smiling face of Christ passes before our spiritual eyes, our attitudes improve, and we are lifted from nighttime to noonday bright.

I’m reminded of the hopeful Psalm passage: “We may weep throughout the night, but with the morning comes joy.” (30:5b)

The day may be dreary and the long night may be weary, but be reassured that our Savior cares. May his smiling face come to all of us to redeem us from the pit… to pull us out and bring sunshine to our souls. Then may there be music in our souls today, a carol to our King!

This hymn sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir