By now, most of us are tired of Winter’s mess. We are hoping that very cold temperatures, the unexpected snow, the continuing rain and wind, will soon be a thing of the past. We look forward to the promise of Spring.
The coming of green grass and budding plants. The sound of chirping birds making their nests in trees that are no longer barren and bare, but places for new lives to be born.
Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend who, along with her family, has come through a lot of suffering–a period of Winter in her life. There were a few tears. But there was a joy within her, too. A sort of Spring.
How does this happen? How does one get through the winter of his/her life?
By trusting in God’s promise.
And what is God’s promise to us?
He does not promise that we will not have our winters. He does not promise that we will not suffer(we know what His own son went through.) But His promise is that He will give us peace of heart and mind in everything, no matter how tragic, when we ask Him to. And that there will be a Spring for us.
There is no one reading this who has not experienced some hard knocks in life. Our time here is often difficult. But here, is ‘where the rubber meets the road.’ Here, is where a simple chunk of coal can become a diamond. Here is where we love and lose–and yet, survive. And become new.
Think of the desperate situations in our own lives. Don’t we sometimes become extremely strong in those situations? Well, that’s God’s promise to us. A promise that we can be stronger than we ever thought we could, if we look to Him.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. ..Philippians 4:6-9
Photo by Irish Eyes, MorgueFile.Com, 2006
Copyright Kaye Park Hinckley, 2016
Translating a World on the Edge 