It’s the first week of January. Cold snow showers greet my presence, but amidst their beauty, something feels dead inside. There’s always a strange quiet that settles in after the holidays, isn’t there? Maybe you’ve felt it, too.

After the decorations come down and Christmas and New Year’s have passed, group chats slow, parties fade, and travel comes to a close. Schedules attempt to return to normal, but something still feels off. The kids are at school, we’re back to work, and the grind is heavier than before. Instead of feeling refreshed and rested, we find ourselves tired and cranky. 

While many people describe January as emotionally heavier than December, recent data shows that loneliness and mental health struggles spike during these winter months (Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.