Wintering Well: Allowing Your Soul to Hibernate
- annardaugherty
- Feb 19
- 4 min read
Someone told me recently they felt heavy, like they were simply moving too slow. But what if slowing down isn’t the failure we fear it to be? Maybe slowing down is part of the plan. I have certainly been slowing down as well, stepping back from the hustle and allowing time for rest. In a culture that praises productivity, I want to encourage you to embrace this wintery season, just as the earth does, and perhaps allow your own hibernation to take place.
Biblical Encouragement:
We set goals, chase deadlines, and measure success by how much we accomplish. But as I’ve been feeling a creative lull lately (some might call it burnout) I’ve been wondering: what if this isn’t failure? What if this is simply a season of dormancy?
All around us, nature moves in rhythms—both daily and through the seasons. Morning and spring arrive fresh with new beginnings, afternoon and summer hum with energy, evening and autumn invite us to slow down and gather, and night, like winter, calls us into quiet and rest. Maybe these rhythms aren’t meant to be resisted but embraced.
Often we fight against slowing down—the fear of falling behind! Rest is for the lazy! But perhaps our souls were designed to follow a similar rhythm. What if, just as God built night into every day and winter into every year, He also built seasons of rest into our lives?
A Biblical Rhythm of Rest
From the very beginning, God modeled rest for us. After six days of creation, He rested on the seventh (Genesis 2:2-3). Later, He commanded His people to observe the Sabbath—a weekly pause from labor (Exodus 20:8-10). Even the land was given a Sabbath rest every seven years (Leviticus 25:4).
Jesus, too, often withdrew to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16). He didn’t rush from one miracle to the next; He understood the need for solitude, reflection, and renewal. If the Son of God took time to step away and rest, why do we think we don’t need it?
Winter is Not Wasted
It’s easy to see winter as a season of barrenness, but beneath the surface, the trees are preparing for new life. Roots grow deeper. Energy is conserved. The work is happening, unseen but essential.
Maybe you’re in a “winter” season right now. Maybe you feel unmotivated, uninspired, or simply weary. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means your soul is doing deep, quiet work beneath the surface. And that work matters.
Instead of forcing yourself to push through exhaustion, give yourself permission to rest.
Tips for Embracing Dormancy
Let go of the guilt. Rest isn’t laziness—it’s preparation.
Lean into stillness. Spend time in prayer, reflection, and quiet walks.
Trust the process. Just as spring always follows winter, renewal will come.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” This includes seasons of stillness, of slowing down, of quieting the noise.
So if your soul feels weary, maybe it’s time to hibernate for a while. To rest, to trust, and to believe that even in the dormancy, God is at work.
Recent Reads:
One of the best ways to embrace a season of rest is through reading, and as I’ve been taking a break from writing, I’ve been diving into a mix of fiction and nonfiction lately.
I took a fun detour back to the mid 2000s by reading Twilight, New Moon, and Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer. As polarizing as that series became, it took me right back to my teen years and I didn't mine the trip down memory lane.
On the nonfiction side, I read The House That Cleans Itself by Mindy Starns Clark, which offered a few new tricks and ideas for maintaining and organizing my home, and Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, an inspiring and insightful read that encouraged me to evaluate exactly how I want to use tech in my life and what might be detracting more than it is giving.
Book-related News:
If you're eagerly awaiting my next novel, Before Grace, be sure to check out the bonus content available now (subscribe for the password), and keep an eye out for a short story prequel coming soon. I'll also be revealing the cover soon. The release date is set for early August!
And for those who love audiobooks, Reaching for Grace is now available in audio format! I’m so excited to bring this story to life in a new way and I want to share it with YOU. I'll be giving away one free copy, subscribe to my newsletter to enter (and comment below for a bonus entry)!
Your Turn ❤️
As another cold front waves through Texas, I hope you and yours stay warm, and that you can find ways to embrace this season of rest and renewal—your soul deserves it. Share in the comments how you're allowing yourself to slow down, or sign up for my newsletter for more encouragement and upcoming bonus content!
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