My three-year-old came up to me this morning with a curious expression. As she stared out the window at the gloomy and cold weather outside, she asked me, ‘Mom, is it winter today?’ The clouds were heavy and dark, the air was chilly and the sunshine she hoped for was nowhere to be found.

I like to think that life looks similar to the seasons of nature. We are all in season. Some of us find ourselves in a summer season, where there’s fruit on every tree and in every area of our lives we can see abundance. However, some of us are facing a winter season. We find ourselves in the thick of gloomy days with heavy and dark clouds hanging over our heads.

This years winter has been a cold one. The air is icy and it creeps into my bones and bites at my skin. It’s far from over. The wind blows and I’m left frozen. I lock myself away, in my warm house, in an attempt to escape the glacial winter air. But somehow, I feel frozen-over still.

Sometimes life is like a chilly winter air that we can’t escape. We lock ourselves in our safe space in an attempt to escape the glacial air but it still manages to slither its way under the door. Unwanted circumstances leave us bitter and cold. Unexpected change has us confused. Unrestored relationships leave us broken. Uncontrollable tides, cause us to drown in the storms of life.

Winters have a way of teaching us how to wait on the voice of God. The chill in the air causes us to linger in the warmth of His presence just a little longer. We cling to the heat He provides through His caring embrace. If we allow, it’s in these winter moments that our hearts burn with desire to meet with our King. Our vulnerability to the frost bite of life, pushes us closer to the sweet fragrance of surrender. As we choose to surrender our will to that of the Fathers, He draws us in closer to Himself and the air becomes a little less hostile and a lot more heavenly.

Seasons come and go and seasons change. Winters don’t last forever. He equips us for the winters and when summer comes, we forget the winters. Winter comes to an end and spring dawns. Spring gives way to summer. Summer blooms and we can’t remember the winter anymore. 

Song of Songs 2:11-12 TPT

The season has changed,
the bondage of your barren winter has ended,
and the season of hiding is over and gone.
The rains have soaked the earth
and left it bright with blossoming flowers.
The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived.
I hear the cooing of doves in our land,
filling the air with songs to awaken you
and guide you forth.

The seasons of summer are bright and beautiful, and the winter chill has been charmed away by Gods gracious hand.

Song of Songs 2:13 TPT

Can you not discern this new day of destiny
breaking forth around you?
The early signs of my purposes and plans
are bursting forth.
The budding vines of new life
are now blooming everywhere.
The fragrance of their flowers whispers,
“There is change in the air.”
Arise, my love, my beautiful companion,
and run with me to the higher place.
For now is the time to arise and come away with me.

When the winters fade and the flowers bloom, the fresh air gives way to new life, new seasons and new wonders.

It’s in the winters that we need to hold on to the wonders of what’s to come!