“He launches His promises earthward —
how swift and sure they come!
He spreads snow like a white fleece,
He scatters frost like ashes,
He broadcasts hail like birdseed —
who can survive His winter?
Then He gives the command and it all melts;
He breathes on winter — suddenly it’s spring!“

{Psalm 147:15-18, MSG}

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Beneath every blanket of snow, the earth prepares for new life. Deep within the soil, seeds break open and roots take hold. Stems begin their steady climb.

Through window panes, we may not see it though. We tire easily of winter, and we stir in anxious anticipation of spring.

Yet, winter holds a beauty all its own. A quiet kind of beauty. A beauty of stillness and waiting.

With frost-filled air and tree limbs bare, the winter season bequeaths to us an invitation to be still, to behold wonder, and to listen to the quiet.

Our souls yearn for it too. We instinctively long for something more than the frenzied rush that marks each day.

Stillness is the requisite for readiness.

To be ready for new life, we must still our bodies and quiet our minds. We must lean in close to hear Him speak as we read His Word.

And when we least expect it, the ice melts and the cold gives way. The waters flow. All at His command.

New life begins as He turns our winter into spring.

Denise J. Hughes, Embracing Grace & Truth

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