“The grass
withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah
40:8)
As the days grow shorter in fall it’s not uncommon for
the winter blues to start setting in, and many people are affected and react
adversely to the decreasing amounts of sunlight and the colder temperatures. We
are entering a season of cold and darkness, and will soon awake in the dark, go
to work in the dark, come home in the dark, and go to sleep in the dark! As
winter settles in, flowers lose their blooms and trees become barren; all the
colors fade away and it may seem that the world is void of any life. But even
though winter may seem dark and gray, it brings a lot of things we don’t savor
and enjoy during the other seasons.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return
there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to a
sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I propose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)
As one season appears and fades into the next, so does
our life go through a season of change, and even though winter may not be the
easiest season we will experience, the “winter” in our lives cannot be avoided,
but rather it should be lived in all its glory! It is often in the winter
season that we really come to know God more; that’s when we can experience the “winters”
in our lives to guide us, shape us, and refine us. The shorter days that are
upon us should be used to get more rest; they are a time of personal growth and
a restful break. We are able to reflect on where we have been and where we are
going; what we have learned and how we have grown by past experiences. It’s as
if we have to become empty and get rid of all the clutter so that God can have
more room to work within us.
“While the earth
remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night,
shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)
The coming cold and darkness of winter urges us to slow
down, replenish our energy, conserve our strength, and reflect on our spiritual
growth. The winter in our life has a beauty different from the other seasons; it
has an emptiness just waiting to be filled by God. The period of darkness is
where His light can shine more brightly for us, and we can experience His
promises in a way we have never known before. When He shines His magnificent light,
it is a time for rebirth, renewal, and hope! During the darkest and coldest
time of the year, the light and warmth of God is present; it is God in the
winter in our life that gives us hope, and draws us close to Him to prepare our
hearts for His blessings and amazing grace.
Linking up this week with:
I love the change of the seasons and your thoughts reflect my own...each season has a purpose and is good even if we enjoy one more than the other.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you this day!
Many blessings to you this new season Marty! :)
DeleteEven the cold and darkness have purpose. Thank you for this beautiful post! You've encouraged me.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet; thanks for visiting, and may you be blessed and have a joyful week!
DeleteOh what a lovely fitting post for this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gayle; blessings and love!
DeleteDear Denise
ReplyDeleteYes, the winter seasons of our lives are usually not enjoyable in the worldly sense, but we know our Lord is growing new life underneath the surface where we cannot yet see. These winter seasons also teach us to draw even closer to our Pappa for His warmth and comfort to cuddle us like a favorite sweater!
Blessings XX
Mia
Oh; love that Mia! :) He does comfort and protect, and I like the image of cuddling with Him! Blessings sweet friend!
DeleteI enjoyed this post, Denise. I, too, believe the seasons are reflective of our spiritual walk. And, if we are truly reflective of our spiritual life, we will see cobwebs that must be removed every season. Blessings, Denise!
ReplyDeleteSo true Cynthia; I have plenty of them to remove each and every season of my life! Have a joyful week dear sister!
DeleteI love the change of seasons. I truly don't prefer one over the other. And I am grateful for every season that has been in my life as well. Each served a purpose although each may not have been as enjoyable as the other. But each was needed for growth. Thanks for sharing this. I visited from Sharing His Beauty this morning. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteAw; I love three out of four-ha! But I AM thankful for the beauty that each season brings, and with each season a chance for growth and refinement! Thanks for visiting; blessings!
DeleteHi Denise, I've also been considering the change of seasons. It reminds me that seasons come and seasons go! But God remains the same through all the change. Thanks for the encouragement to embrace a new season
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Tracy
Yes they do Tracy; there's just not much we can do about seasonal change-ha! I am looking forward to wearing my gloves you made me!! Blessings to you too dear friend!
DeleteHey Denise! Love your analogy in reference to our spiritual walk. Just as each season has it's purpose, so do the seasons of our lives. We should embrace them and walk them out...knowing that on the end comes the birthing of a totally new season with it's own challenges and blessings. Thanks for sharing my friend...blessings!
ReplyDeleteThanks my friend...I am entering the season that presents me with the most challenges...but I am ready to embrace it! Love ya' Michell!
DeleteI am very glad that I have read your blog. It is an eye-opener for me. Thank you, Denise!
ReplyDeleteYou are of course quite correct. I have thought of this myself and had a number of visions doing it. The way God has created the earth is an everlasting inspiration and source of wisdom. The winter is Christ, to the trinity of seed sown, flowering and harvested. And Christ is the thumb to the four seasons.
ReplyDeleteI am immodest enough to present a link to my Advent poem. It says something about the seasons. Find it | here |.
God bless you.
Hi Denise! You are so right about the winter being a sad time for some people. Every season is a season of hope, but it's harder to see in the darkness than the light.
ReplyDeleteLoved that image of light and dark, and the truth about going to work in the dark and emerging in the dark too! I will light candles more in the winter, and it does help me to reflect on the light of Christ.
Great post!
Ceil
Winter can be a difficult time for some, but I like it because of the contrast. Outside it can be cold and frosty, but then, when we come inside, it becomes warm and cozy by the fire. We can count on God always being there to warm us when we draw near to Him...even in our darkest times.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Joan
Oh dear friend! This was BEAUTIFUL!! I'm letting your words sink in. This truly blessed me this morning. THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteWinter is hard on me physically. I feel like my body tenses when it arrives and doesn't relax until spring. My heart, too, loves the filling of spring. Yet God knows we need the other seasons, too. Written so beautifully, Denise.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post as I am already dreading the winter. I hope I can look at it more positively this year and realize there is good in every season and much that winter can teach us.
ReplyDeleteI miss the light and warmth of summer already!! What a beautiful post, Denise.
ReplyDelete