Spring Speaks of God's Faithfulness - Serenity in Suffering
Delightfully apprehending the changes spring brings to our property, emphasized creation’s ability of portraying our Creator to us. Springs speaks of God’s faithfulness in its emergence from the cold silence of winter into vibrancy under the warmth of the spring sun. From the minutest insect to the patriarchal oak, every living thing awakens from the slumber of winter to the song of spring. Creation rises from its slumber with joy not unlike that which God spoke of in Job 38:7, “When the morning stars stand together, and the sons of God shouted for joy“, when God first laid the foundations of the world.
I recently read spring is the most welcomed of all the seasons. Perhaps coming on the heels of the most misunderstood season of winter, spring offers the promise of renewed life and warmth. The article mentioned people smile more in spring, harboring renewed energy and feelings of hope. Each season promulgates enumerable attributes of our magnificent Creator; elegantly, spring speaks of God’s faithfulness.
spring mercies new every morning
Despite our enthusiasm for spring’s appearance, spring’s melody is played larghetto, moving through serenity to vitality. In one way, spring surrounds us with suspense, leaving us to ponder the arrival of our favorite plants and flowers. In another way, spring delights us each day with glimpses of newly arrived buds or tiny green crowns peeking through the rich soil, fueling hope in what is yet to come. Spring gently leads us with mercies new each day as we view the transformation from barrenness to fruitfulness.
God’s mercy clothed us with salvation when we were yet destitute prisoners of our transgressions. (Ephesians 2:4-5)Yet more splendid, He continues lavishing His mercies upon us each day. Spring infuses our hearts with hope each day revealing glimmers of promised new life, so the knowledge of our merciful God enlivens hope in the midst of failure. As the spring rains nourish tender seedlings, plants and flowers, God showers mercies abundant upon His beloved children softening the hard places of the heart. (Psalm 103:8-14)
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
god’s faithfulness in the transition of the seasons
Each season invites a transition, a change; autumn bids us behold the beauty of release, winter beckons us to rest and reflection, spring urges us embrace renewal, and summer calls us to responsibility. The seasons bring us valuable learning opportunities for nature, spiritual maturity and embracing change. Most of us cringe at the thought of change, in fact, fear of change heads the trigger list for anxiety. Of the myriad reasons God gifts us with astronomical seasons, perhaps one reason is understanding the value of change.
The seasons move through their appointed times without hesitation or resistance. While many of us have favorite seasons, we must accept our enjoyment lasts but the time allotted. The seasons illustrate God’s faithfulness in their timely arrivals and departures as they yield to the next season in turn. But God also demonstrates His faithfulness within the transition or change of not only each astronomical season, but each season of life we experience. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8); in an ever changing landscape of worldly pressures, shifting seasons of life and even spiritual growing pains, our unchanging God is the rock that will never move.
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
god’s faithfulness in spring’s renewal
Spring, as the season of growth and sowing prompts us towards renewal. A walk through our gardens in early spring showcases the glimmerings of new growth while at the same time displaying the remnants of past glory. The full renewal blossoms in its fullness as dead leaves, branches, stems and debris are removed, giving air and sun full access to new growth. We work the ground, add new soil and fertilizers for nourishment and mulch for protection, all strengthening and encouraging the renewal of life waiting to burst forth.
Left untended for several years, when we purchased our property two years ago, the overgrowth of trees, bushes and plants hindered any new growth and depleted the life source of each. The previous owner believed to prune, trim or remove overgrowth was unkind to the trees, shrubs and plants. My husband worked diligently area by area pruning, trimming and replanting and while we lost many of the more damaged trees and shrubs, after two years the renewal is emerging.
Spiritual Renewal Requires Pruning
Contemplating our garden journey reminded me of God’s faithfulness in my spiritual garden. The beauty of renewal often requires the removal of the dead leaves, branches and stems of sinful habits, spiritual sloth and undisciplined thought life. We forfeit spiritual growth when we leave the remnant of these dead debris cluttering our lives. God faithfully prunes, trims and cultivates our hearts exposing us to the light and warmth of His word, the breath of the Holy Spirit and forgiveness through the washing of the Word.
Take a walk through your spiritual garden and look for areas in need of God’s spring renewal and surrender to His caring hand.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
- Sinful Habits. Look for stubborn habits you prefer coddling, rather than removing. Most are subtle, seemingly harmless, but consider how they stifle spiritual growth. Ask God to reveal habits keeping you from His best for you. Sometimes our pet habits are not sinful, like social media, binge watching Netflix or enjoying a particular hobby. But they can absorb time better spent in other ways.
- Spiritual Sloth. This encompasses Bible reading, prayer and worship, but also the more subtle spiritual disciplines of forgiveness, loving your neighbor through acts of service, giving or confession of sin. Ask God’s help in discerning where you fall short and how to improve.
- Undisciplined Thought Life. Another area of subtilty, we often give little effort to what we allow in our minds. Instead of gatekeepers to our minds we leave the door wide open for thoughts which come and go at will. Negative, critical or fantasy thoughts lead us away from God’s truth into dangerous areas of unbelief. Heeding Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he…”, we must take our thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Spring Speaks of God’s faithfulness
Spring speaks of God’s faithfulness in its timely arrival each year at the time appointed by God. Among the seasons, winter in its barrenness often feels unending; an unwanted guest overstaying their welcome. Spring’s predictability heralds hope and promises comfort in knowing the austere passage of winter is but for a chosen time. With the unfolding of each new day’s gift of emerging new life, spring reminds us of God’s sovereignty over His creation.
While each season proclaims God’s faithfulness in its arrival and unique characteristics, spring showcases the Creator’s faithfulness most ostentatiously. Spring testifies of life after death, as we behold year after year life emerge from the depths of dark earth, bare branches and broken seeds. Accentuated by the celebration of the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ throughout Lent and Holy Week. Often pondering the reality of the resurrection’s place in the season of spring, I marvel at God’s design in spring’s replicating the resurrection hope before our eyes each year. For God kept His promise of old, and in the fullness of time sent forth His Son, through which we not only receive redemption, but sonship.
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