Skip to main content

A Touch of Spring

 

Hard to believe spring is on its way when it is so cold and there is snow in many parts of the country, let alone the heavy rain that continues to flood communities and destroy homes. However, my narcissi seem to think spring is already here and I have a wonderful display in my otherwise fairly bare garden. It is a delight to gaze out of my window and see the promise of spring to come.

I am going through a bit of a spiritual winter currently. There is so much happening in the world—devastating severe weather events, COVID still circulating, wars and threat of wars, dishonest politicians, evil seeming more rampant by the day, prayers for family and friends seeming futile. I find myself wondering why God allows all that He does. I am finding it hard to trust Him at times, He seems far away and my heart sometimes feels burdened with despair.

I lean heavily on His Word during these times.

I only know what I see through my human eyes. God sees the future, He knows how the story ends. I don’t need to worry about anything because everything is in His hands.  He tells me to ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.’ (Proverbs 3:5).

I know God is good and He is sovereign so I have no need to be afraid of all that is happening in the world.  ‘Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”’ (John 14:27)

And when I am anxious, I remember that He says ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:6-7). I have found this to be true EVERY SINGLE TIME.

And so very many more Scriptures are available to us that will encourage and strengthen us, give us hope and bring us peace.

It do trust that God is working in me rejuvenating my faith and nurturing the growth that will eventually come forth. Spring is coming!

So trust in the Lord today.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Taking Time Out

  I had the privilege this week of attending a retreat with five other women. The retreat was over three days but unfortunately some of the nine women who intended to go, were unable to as other urgent commitments came up and needed to be kept. So it became a bit different than expected. Six of us attended the first day, but two of us could only go for the day. Another two were going out the following day for the rest of the retreat. Unfortunately one of our ladies became quite sick and to her disappointment missed it all. However, the day I attended was blessed.   The retreat was held at a beach house belonging to one of the group, at an isolated beach about an hours drive away. It was a beautiful sunny day. We deposited our bags and the first thing we did after admiring the view, was to have a cup of tea. This lead to a lovely lazy discussion about all sorts of things, a great introduction to spending time together. Following this we spent about an hour studying and discus...

Friends

  I am so blessed to have a circle of really good friends in my life. I am a definite introvert so find it really easy to simply stay home, especially if I have a good book to read. I am an avid reader of Christian fiction. However, I do know that it is better that I have some socialization. Research shows that isolation increases the risk of an early death as well as the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease so obviously I want to avoid that if possible. Research also shows that socialization is good for brain health including making your memory sharper as well as increasing well-being and feelings of belonging. Although as an introvert I find socialization can be a little exhausting, I do enjoy time with my friends and it makes me happy. Introverts tend to have a few very close friends whilst extroverts tend to be friends with everyone and find socialization energizing—strangers are only ‘friends they haven’t yet met’! Now that is of course a very broad generalization, but i...

Planting Seeds

  Carrying on from last week, I was wondering how I am sowing seeds. I realised that we can all sow seeds everywhere we go. I don’t go out that often actually, I don’t belong to any secular groups but I can still be responsive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Under his leading I made a determined effort to get to know the names of all the staff at my two favourite cafés that I visit at least weekly. I ask about their families; I support where I can. My friends and I find opportunities to give them all a little gift of chocolate and a card with a verse of scripture written on it. They all know we are Christians. I guess that might be called planting seeds. I converse with the supermarket checkout operators just to have a chance to bring a blessing to them. Some of them now know I am a Christian. I can easily bring God into conversations with unsaved family members, neighbours and strangers I stop and talk to in the park—with the leading of the Holy Spirit. I do not adopt a heavy...