“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” – St. Paul, to the Church of Ephesus
Even though it’s still a bit cold, I’m growing antsy with excitement as I feel the coming spring emerge out of winter’s freeze. The rain smells fresh – beautifully new – like something pure and imaginative will soon emerge from beneath the frozen, cinder-covered earth. And yet, despite the rain and the crocuses blooming in sunny spots, Old Man Winter still manages to make his presence known. Honestly, I’m tired of the wintry mix. I long to exchange my winter coat and mittens for a lighter jacket and rain boots. I want change to arrive quickly, but the past few months--even weeks--discourage me. Winter continues to linger.
I wonder how often we hear a sermon or watch God move in our lives and grow excited for future growth, for a spiritual spring, only to have that anticipation diminished by a few snowflake set-backs. I wonder how many times we’ve set-out to make changes, resolved for a new life, only to grow weary of the circumstantial lack of progress.
I want to encourage you, to hold onto the promises we have in Christ. We know spring is near. Despite the wintery mixes and hail and ice and salt-covered streets, we know that, eventually, Old Man Winter will go hibernate for the summer, lulled to sleep by butterflies and blue skies. And we know that, in Christ, we are a new creation, working out our salvation, a people in the process of sanctification. We know that He is still working on us and that, in the end, He always wins. We are being changed. We will be changed.
Don’t lose heart, friends. If you fall down, let Him pick you up. If you fail, He is there. If you don’t see immediate results, persevere. Our God is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Eph 3:20) Keep pressing in, further in and further up.
It may look like winter, but spring is coming.
