The Beauty in Winter

Genesis 8:22, “As long as the earth continues, planting and harvest, cold and hot, summer and winter, day and night will not stop.”

The seasons change yearly, never missing their time to shine. Each season brings something to God's creation, and all have their purpose. Like the seasons help nature, I think each season can represent Christians in their life. There are times for new beginnings (springtime), times of business and activity (summer), and times for harvest (fall). These seasons can also represent our walk with God. Now, after all these seasons pass we then enter winter time, a season a lot of us reluctantly enter.

     Only half the people in life enjoy and look forward to the winter season. I am not one of them. The bad weather combined with the cold it brings. The chances of sickness and long days. A time, even if only a few months, drag on forever and the beautiful lush green grass and trees; the colorful array of flowers are gone. They all turned drab and morph into a world of brown and white. Winter seems to isolate the world, keeping us tucked away in our homes waiting for the season to pass.

     Yes, there's something wonderful that happens in these winter filled days. A reason God added this season to nature and a new way we can add it to our lives.

     When I mentioned summer as a time of business and activity, I was not simply talking about days filled with swimming, boating, picnics, and such. Spiritually we can look at summer as being busy doing the Lord's work. Being active in our churches, using our talents to minister to others, helping those around us in ways that can point others to Jesus. Like planting season, after that season is the fall harvest. Although we may not see the full harvest of the Lord, our task is to just keep busy in sharing the gospel.

     Living in Michigan there are many trees around, especially the further north you travel. Trees have always fascinated me in all seasons but today I want you to picture with me a fall tree. A tall, beautiful tree reaching high in the sky, its shape round and perfectly symmetrical, the trunk itself about four feet wide. Its leaves golden with hues of red and orange.

     Trees are a great representation of the body of Christ, God's church, God's people. The base and roots represent God, the branches, God's people throughout the earth. Even though the branches are all different, they are still part of the root system. The branches have been tasked to minister to the world (leaves) in various ways that represent Jesus.

     Do you have a particular picture in your mind? I, for one, have one tree in mind I used to drive by all the time through each season. No matter the season my eyes were drawn to the branches and leaves. Now I want you to look at the trunk of the tree, its root system. It's not as pretty, is it? In contrast to the leaves in bloom, the intricacy of the branches intertwining with each other the trunk is rather bland and boring.

     You may be asking how a fall tree ties into winter. As I studied more about trees I learned something. Trees, when the leaves are gone and it stands barren in the winter, it is exposed to all the cold elements winter brings. It cannot move or hibernate. In order to survive it has to stop making food (put on your science caps 😊) and turn inward. Moisture must be drawn from its underground roots to protect itself from winter drought.

     Oh, what a lesson I have learned. Jesus tells us He is the vine and we are the branches- John 15:5. Romans 11:18, “So do not brag about those branches that were broken off. If you brag, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.”

     Instead of dreading these cold winter days longing for the warmer seasons. Instead of looking at winter as drab and dreary I can see these months differently. Spring, summer, and fall we can be busy both spiritually and for fun. We are in full bloom, most useful to be about doing the Lord's work.

     Winter for a tree is not the time to create and produce; it's time to rejuvenate and draw from its roots. As Christians, this is a time to draw closer to Jesus, slow down, rejuvenate. Jesus is our root system; He is the living water. While snuggled warm in our homes in order to survive these winter days we must draw water from the Word. By pausing and drawing water from the Spirit we can become renewed and refreshed and sustain ourselves until springtime.

     Like sitting by a cozy fire with loved ones, talking and spending time together. Winter, for Jesus, is like that. When we dig deeper into His Word, slow down and listen, He will use the time to connect deeper with us. Our time indoors is not meant to be full of activity but to renew ourselves in Jesus.

     Soon enough the weather will begin to change, and we will be itching to get outside again. The rest we received the rejuvenation, will help us emerge into spring ready to share new things God has prepared for us.

     I may not like winter, the cold is bitter, but I can now enjoy it with a new outlook. I can go through these days drinking from Jesus and gain renewed strength. In fact, over the last few days, I have been inspired in a fresh new way. May your winter bring rest and rejuvenation instead of drab, blah, or even depression. Trust and lean on Jesus, our source of all things.

     Jeremiah 17:7-8. “But the person who trusts in the Lord will be blessed. The Lord will show him that he can be trusted. He will be strong, like a tree planted near water that sends its roots by a stream. It is not afraid when the days are hot; its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year when no rain comes; it always produces fruit.”

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