In the Winter

Especially in cooler climates, Winter is characterized as cold, dark, and deadly. As bitter cold sweeps in, plants die and the world frosts over. Venturing into the remains of beautiful autumn exposes you to the harsh bite of winter air drawing your body’s heat away. The sun seems to abandon us, fleeing from the frozen conflict. Within this bleak portrayal, however, there is an important process taking place. Winter, you see, is a time of rest and preparation. Some birds are forced on a journey that will both refine and define their species. Some mammals will curl up and hibernate for months in preparation for the spring activity. Farmland rests between crops, preparing for future growth. Humans gather to celebrate joys past and present while looking forward in hope. A frozen landscape becomes a twinkling wonderland with icy prisms contrasting bare branches and evergreens. Spiritually, winter can come at any time of year but the parallels are striking. During times when we feel our passions cool and God’s direction wane it is not a sign that we have been forsaken or a sign of spiritual death creeping in. You see when a phase of our God-given mission draws to a close, we can be called into a winter that allows us to rest, celebrate, reflect, and plan in preparation for what God is about to do in and through our lives come Springtime! If you hear spiritual winter calling, it is not a call to apathy or withdrawal. Instead, remember Hebrews 4:9-11 and recognize the call to Sabbatical; a beautiful wintertime of communion between you and God as He prepares you for an amazing Spring. “9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11