Although we are still in the winter months, there is hope of a new season around the corner. As we walk in our gardens, on country lanes, or paths and roads where we live, we are likely to see Snowdrops now appearing in garden borders and under hedgerows. They are nearly always the first sign of spring. They will be followed within the next few weeks by Crocus, daffodils, wood anemones and much more. The days are lengthening and we should be cheered by the brighter days to come, with warmer sunshine, leaving those darker days of winter behind us.
There is beauty in all four of the seasons that God created, more unseen in the winter months because that’s the dormant season. Winter is natures support mechanism so that it can rest, ensuring that life can continue through the following year.
The Bible tells us of seasons not just of those concerning nature, but those concerning man and woman and our lives too.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3 v 1-8
It tells us that there is a time for every season and every matter under heaven. God’s intention was to allow mankind all aspects of life’s experiences to come into their lives. These same experiences will come to everyone, but perhaps in different ways. There will be sorrow, joy, love, hate, anguish, weeping, laughter, work, toil, happiness. We are told that these things and feelings will happen in our lives. We must remember that with this inevitability of life as we live each day, week, month, year, these are like the natural seasons, they will come and go.
There is a hope which we can all share in. It’s called the call of the gospel. We can reach out to God the Creator of all things to help us through the difficult times. Just like God controls nature, if we come near to Him in hope and faith (which is trust), we will then start to see His love and guidance in our lives.
If we have faith and hope, and we pray for guidance, we can trust that things will work out at some point for us, however hard a situation we may find ourselves in. The disciple Peter tells us to “…..Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.” I Peter 5 v 6
Jesus told his disciples “Therefore I say unto you do not worry about your life, what you shall eat nor about your body, what you will put on………. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than birds?……Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil or spin…….If then God so clothe the grass……how much more will He clothe you.” Luke 12 v 22 – 24
Although nature is so important to God and we see His hand at work within the natural seasons. Our lives mean more to Him. We can take comfort from these thoughts. In all the seasons of our lives, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter God is always there for our needs. The snowdrop gives us joy of life emerging from a beautifully created natural world, a life sustained by God.
Quotations taken from New King James Bible