Laying below the frozen earth there is life.
At first glance, something may look barren.
Or hopeless.
Or impossible.
But since the beginning of time, the earth has been constant …
revealing the predictability of God’s creation, giving us hope.
If God cares for the earth, how much more does he care about you?
Winter doesn’t last forever.
A new day is coming. Wait for it!
I just finished planting more tulip and daffodil bulbs.
I love how the ground feels this time of year. I don’t even wear gloves because I want to feel the earth.
As I dropped each bulb in, I smiled to think of each flower’s appearance in the spring. Here in the Northeast, the winter will feel very long some days. But the expectation of new flowers breaking through the melted snow is a simple, yet profound, lesson of life.
What is it that you expect?
Does your mind immediately wander to despair?
Don’t let it. Choose to remember and expect good things.
Every winter in Upstate NY, we experience the “January Thaw”. I’m sure it’s not exclusive to where I live, but nevertheless, we look forward to it. The temperature rises to the mid to high 40’s and the snow and ice melts. It’s as if winter pauses briefly for a week before the next blast of cold and snow.
If there is a break in winter’s rhythm, there is a break for you, too.
Sometimes, we can be so overwhelmed with our present circumstances that we may not be aware of the joy that is often mingled with our sorrow.
Have you ever been crying and then found yourself laughing at something? Those are moments that come upon us when we weren’t expecting it.
We aren’t always expecting a reprieve – relief that lasts longer than a moment. It’s a break from the constant pressure of whatever burdens you.
I think we should look for it. Just like the January Thaw.
God isn’t going to forget you.
~~~
Photo credit: Βethan / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
January’s thaw loosens winter’s icy grip and brings reprieve.
The birds find berries once hidden in drifts of snow and the deer find fresh bark.
And water! Cool, clean, and fresh.
If God provides for these, how much more for you?
Weighted down with heavy ice and snow, branches threaten to snap, exposing its tender green to the cruel cold.
But now, they spring up toward the sky once again.
Whatever your winter is – God will bring hope and rest in the midst of it.
Sometimes, life feels like the long, cold days of winter. There are cozy moments of watching half-dollar sized snowflakes drift while sipping a cup of frothy, hot chocolate. But most of the time, our activities may be limited as we endure the monotony of chipping ice off our windshields, darkness at 4pm, and paying fuel bills.
But, spring is coming. It always comes. It never misses. Ever.
Jesus said the natural world helps us understand spiritual things – those things pertaining to God.
You may be in the “winter” of life with many concerns that are covered with a blanket of uncertainty. Maybe you feel stuck between where you were and where you are going.
Whatever it is, spring will come. Just when you least expect it, something will change. Wait for it with expectancy!
This morning, I read to my 11 yr. old about the tundra.
Most of the tundra is located north of the Arctic Circle – in the Frigid Zone – the coldest regions of the earth.
As winter approaches, the nights grow longer and colder as snow and ice cover the earth. The ground freezes solid.
Desolate. Barren. Empty.
Pain is like that.
But then-
Who knew this far removed region of the earth would dance with color? About 400 wildflower species announces to the world that desolation is only temporary.
The existence of pain does not mean God isn’t real. We accept winter and spring. One does not negate the other.
The arrival of spring brings comfort and tells us that God is with us.
Read nature! It helps explain life.
~
Photo credits: Rich Reid and Norbert Rosing
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/
when it hurts 