Longing for Spring

He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8: 21

Winter has been long and harsh here in the mountains. Frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall have been unrelenting. I find myself longing for Spring, which seems like a distant dream when I look out the window and see nothing but huge mounds of snow and ice. Yet I know the promise of Spring awaits. The winter will pass and the earth will come alive with flowers, green grass, and budding trees, but it's hard to imagine the nearness of Spring when I look outside and see nothing but Winter.

Life is a lot like that. When going through a difficult "winter" season it can be hard to grasp the reality that "spring" will ever arrive again. Our trials and troubles won't last forever, but when we look at our situation we see nothing but the difficult winter season we are currently facing. It can be hard to see beyond it. The enemy of our souls would like us to feel hopeless in what feels like a never-ending season of sickness, financial woes, relationship issues, job stress, or depression. Perhaps we struggle with some form of addiction that seems to have taken over our life and we can't seem to break free no matter how hard we try. We begin to feel as if our situation is hopeless and that it will never change, but we can rest assured that our earthly problems will not last forever when we are followers of Jesus Christ. Spring is just around the corner, even though we may not see it now.We can trust in God's promises because not one of them has ever failed. We need not lose hope, for we know Spring always follows Winter, and for that we can rejoice and be glad!

Ode to Winter

Ode to Winter

Winter's breath harsh and shrill,

blankets the mountain with a blustery chill,

as snow cloaked trees dance to and fro,

their branches laden with heavy snow,

and moonlight glisten's on a February night,

sprinkling the woods with snowy light.

Outside my window I see once more,

Winter's attire serene and pure.