Photo credit: Elliot Cullen on Unsplash
By Melanie Stevenson
“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape Give a good smell.” (Song of Solomon 2:11-14)
Spring arrives gently, reluctantly, and haltingly. We await its arrival with expectation, our hope ignited by insertions of warmth that dissipate as quickly as they come. We long to discard the cold months of snow—everything frozen so long that we wonder how anything could survive. Then, it comes: the miracle of new life springs up amid warmth and sunshine, and we throw off the dark months of winter.
Our lives, like the seasons, experience perpetual change. Some seasons find us dancing through spring puddles, drenched in joy and hope. Other seasons find us basking in the warm, bright sun amid long, luxurious days. There are seasons of letting go when things fall away. Then there are the cold nights of winter where we worry anything good will grow again.
During difficulties, we may grow fearful or bewildered. We may question God when he tells us, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear” (Matthew 6:25). Amid suffering, we may also find it difficult to take God at his word when he assures us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). But these verses are a reminder that God will provide for our needs and of his promised presence and support during difficult seasons.
When we experience loss and seemingly everything good is covered from view or has died off, we may question why God would allow such suffering. We may wonder if he has forgotten or abandoned us. But James, the brother of Jesus tells us to, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4). James reframes suffering for us helping us to see that our struggles create a resilient and beautiful character.
Paul speaks about suffering in these terms: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8″17-18). He reminds us of our heavenly hope, helps us to look beyond the moment, and keep our eyes fixed on Christ and eternity instead of our imminent trials.
I have experienced a few long winters of the soul, when everything seemed frozen and lifeless, times of deep personal loss where I questioned if anything good could come of it. But as I look back, I notice that in each circumstance, God exceeded my expectations in remaking and recalibrating things in such a way I could never have thought to even ask or imagine. He remained faithful to “provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3)
During the winters of our lives, we learn the way of deeper trust. Our faith is refined, our character is proven, and, in the end, we look more like Jesus. Our clouded eyes of faith begin to see clearly, and we believe God when he says, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Christ himself experienced the barrenness of winter by his death on the cross. Even though it appeared all was lost and everything had failed, Jesus trusted his Father in Heaven. Though excruciating, Jesus understood that his sufferings were for a far greater purpose—the salvation of all.
Throughout the seasons in our lives, we begin to see a pattern. We notice that no matter how dark or how prolonged the season of suffering, God continues to “work all things together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). It’s miraculous—something only God can do—this transforming suffering and pain into good. We cannot see how this could be possible when we are in the thick of winter, how anything good could ever spring up out of the frozen ground, but God uses it all. He is infinitely faithful.
One day, when the Son’s warmth shines fully on our faces, we rise up. With our hand enfolded in God’s, we notice that the winter is behind us, the downpour has ceased, and the frozen wasteland that spanned our lives’ soil is now flourishing with beauty. Surrounded by birdsong, God leads us, pointing out the new growth and the coming harvest. Nothing was as it appeared. Beneath the surface of our lives, beauty propagated in unseen places, waiting to burst forth in God’s timing and for his glory. We can hardly believe our eyes.
Can we trust God during the winters of our lives? Can we cling to his promises with a white-knuckled grip, even when we see no signs of Spring, knowing that he is faithful and is creating unimaginable beauty? His plan, unfolding in his time, is a masterpiece of beauty and grace.
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Award-winning author Melanie Stevenson
Born in England, Melanie has never lost her love of British tea and gardens. Her family immigrated to Canada when she was five years old and settled in southern Ontario. Years later, she entered the University of Waterloo as an English major and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Growing up, Melanie was passionate about reading, writing, and drawing. She wrote her first novel at age twelve. Since becoming a Christian at age eighteen, she has filled countless journal pages with prayers which became the inspiration behind her devotionals.
One More Tomorrow (September 2019) is Melanie’s debut novel (the first line of which was conceived in an airport terminal) and won Best Romance at the 2020 Word Guild Awards. Her second book, Soul Focus – Trials (November 2019), is a selection of devotionals written over a span of ten years. Melanie was the winner of Best New Canadian Author at the 2020 Word Guild Awards, and received runner up for Best New Manuscript at the 2021 Word Guild Awards.
