Winter

It’s that time of year again for warm, cozy drinks and fuzzy, cuddly blankets. Snow has fallen and the winter chill is in the air. The wonder of winter is upon us!

Winter is a season to remind us to slow down and be still. However, if you’ve been out and about recently, the heavy traffic and crowded stores scream the complete opposite. The rush to check off Christmas lists, parties and holiday activities is real, not to mention the demands of everyday living like laundry, grocery shopping, and work. The schedule fills up quick, doesn’t it?

We can easily allow the winter season to become stressful instead of restful.

You might be asking yourself, “How can I make space when it feels like there is absolutely no place for it?” or “How do I find rest in a season when it feels like I am pulled in a million different directions?”

The earth’s season of rest is in winter. Here are some interesting facts about winter:

● The change in temperature in this season has nothing to do with the distance of the earth to the sun.

● The temperature change is caused due to the way the earth’s axis is tilted away from the sun.

● Winter is also a natural way of how the earth replenishes, renews, recovers and rejuvenates.

Winter is a season of dormancy, but it is also a season of preparation and growth (beneath the surface). The earth needs its rest from the harvest. As the temperature changes, the earth recognizes that a season of stillness is settling in.

Dormancy does not mean things are dying or useless. Dormancy is about resting and preparing.

Dormancy is a good thing. We must remind ourselves that God is not absent or far away during seasons of dormancy and stillness. There is still preparation happening even when it’s not visibly seen. Vital and powerful things are happening internally and underground.

We might see a tree that is completely stripped of all its leaves and external vibrancy. It could appear dead. But internally, there is healthy activity taking place within the structure and root system of the tree. We cannot see it, but it’s absolutely happening.

Slow seasons are seasons of preparation. They are valuable and necessary. Spring is coming!

God is in the stillness. God is always working even when we do not see it.

There is such an awe and wonder in winter. Think about every snowflake that falls. Each one is so unique and incredibly crafted. To recognize the fact that every snowflake is different is mind-blowing. There is such beauty in God’s handiwork and intentionality!

There are so many aspects of winter that bring forth beauty. These are gentle nudges for us to slow down. Remember that God is present in the stillness and in the things unseen.

There is joy and wonder in the winter season. It might be cold and icy, but there is LIFE happening all around. Things are being prepared that we do not see.

It’s important to have a perspective that “activity” doesn’t always have to be seen. There is a saying that sums it up well:

 “Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

The hidden and quiet places we create for ourselves are spaces of preparation.  Dormancy. Stillness. Quiet. Rest. These are the unseen “activities” that require focus, self-control, discipline and patience. As we prepare our hearts to wait on the Lord and recalibrate our growth, the wonder of who He is speaks to our souls. And then, God, in His perfect rhythm and timing, brings forth life! We are awakened and able to move into a new season. 

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, may the awe and wonder of our Savior Jesus Christ, still your soul. Remember that it’s the axis of our hearts that effect the temperature of how we experience God. Is He near or far away from you? The truth is, Jesus never turns away from us. We are the ones who turn our hearts from Him as we get tangled up in the tinsel of this holiday season.

Let us rest and lean into His presence. Don’t turn away. Experience the rhythm of this season and the heartbeat of the One who loves you most and knows you best.

Pslam 65:8 says, “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy!”

Bethany Marshall