It was a genuine winter. The pile of snow by our driveway was so tall, we dubbed the spot the Matterhorn. With heavy snowfall before Thanksgiving, it felt as though winter would never end. Yet, one day, God snapped his fingers and the air was warmer, the sun was brighter and the Matterhorn began to turn into an insignificant little pile.
Everything in God's creation celebrated spring. The crocus began to show through the thin layer of snow and the trees in my back yard were prolific with buds. I was in a state of spring euphoria; until the morning I awoke to see a blizzard raging outside our house.
"How can this be?" I wondered. All signs were there for spring. My summer birds are returning to the backyard feeder and little shoots of green were everywhere. The whole mess left me with a vague feeling of sadness. How would the crocus and tulips survive? Would my trees fail to reach their full spring beauty because of this unexpected cold snap?
There is an analogy here for my walk with God. I thought of all the times I believed I had seen signs of spring, a hopeful job offer, a healing of an illness, a restoration of relationship and then, without notice, a violent snowstorm buried me so deep I couldn't see the sun anymore. My faith was in a snow-covered valley and I wondered if spring would ever come.
What a difference a day makes! In one second on God's clock, the Son begins to shine on my life. The melting snow cleanses and washes away all the dirt and muck that had been buried in the winter storm. The fresh scent of spring is all around.
Everything in God's creation celebrated spring. The crocus began to show through the thin layer of snow and the trees in my back yard were prolific with buds. I was in a state of spring euphoria; until the morning I awoke to see a blizzard raging outside our house.
"How can this be?" I wondered. All signs were there for spring. My summer birds are returning to the backyard feeder and little shoots of green were everywhere. The whole mess left me with a vague feeling of sadness. How would the crocus and tulips survive? Would my trees fail to reach their full spring beauty because of this unexpected cold snap?
There is an analogy here for my walk with God. I thought of all the times I believed I had seen signs of spring, a hopeful job offer, a healing of an illness, a restoration of relationship and then, without notice, a violent snowstorm buried me so deep I couldn't see the sun anymore. My faith was in a snow-covered valley and I wondered if spring would ever come.
What a difference a day makes! In one second on God's clock, the Son begins to shine on my life. The melting snow cleanses and washes away all the dirt and muck that had been buried in the winter storm. The fresh scent of spring is all around.
As it is in my walk with God, so it is in His creation. My worries that the beauty of spring would be ruined by the late snow were unfounded. Tulips now peek around fences, the buds on the trees are waiting to burst into bloom and the fragrance and excitement of God's renewal is all around me.
This springtime experience has reminded me that just because I allow the clouds of my circumstance to block the Son, it does not mean He is not there. He is always there, shining, beautiful, and loving and bringing new life to everything around Him. The springtime of my faith is always around the corner. I don't need to worry about late snow. Late snow brings Living Water and refreshment to my soul when the season of renewal finally makes itself known.
The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.Isaiah 61:11 (NLT)
