Will Spring Ever Come??
Is anyone besides me sick of snow? It’s April 20 and just yesterday in Northeastern Pennsylvania, we had furious squalls of the white stuff. Will winter ever end and spring begin? At this point, we may doubt it. We’re not being unreasonable. There’s no expectation of sizzling heat this time of year, only a legitimate anticipation that temperatures will hover around sixty degrees. Instead, we’re in the thirties. What’s going on? I wish I knew.
Since we can’t change the weather, what do we do? Complaining about it seems to be the most popular option. And posting pictures of thermometers and snow covered trees, bushes, decks, etc. on Facebook and Instagram. But is there a more constructive way to handle this seemingly unending winter? We can step back and look at the One Who controls it, and everything else.
In Acts 14:16 Paul tells us that even before Jesus gave His life for us, God did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." (ESV) And Jesus says this in Matthew 5:45: For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (ESV) So through the weather (specifically sun and rain in these verses), God shows Himself to us and provides for us.
It was Christ’s control over the elements that let the apostles (and us) know He was no ordinary man and ultimately pointed to His true identity as the Son of God: And when he [Jesus] got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" (Matt 8:23-27 ESV)
God made this promise to Noah and all of humanity after the flood: While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." (Gen 8:22 ESV) So, yes, spring will come. And so will the warm temperatures we crave this frigid April. Yet no matter what the weather is, may it cause us to look to the One Who created and controls it. And as we marvel at God’s almighty power and authority, let’s be thankful for the seasons and the provisions and blessings each one brings.
Just something that’s changing my outlook along the way.