Meditations for a Gray Monday in March

Here in the Upper Midwest, it’s winter.

Still.

It’s cold. (Our forecasted high for Wednesday is 5.) Gritty piles of snow lay scattered on the ground. There are few signs of spring, other than the slowly strengthening sun.

Winter is my past, present and future. It hems me in and suffocates my faith. It causes me to question what I know to be true. I find myself slipping into lethargy and dullness. I no longer look for spring to come today or tomorrow. Somewhere in my soul, I know it will arrive eventually. But I don’t live like I believe it.

I’m weary of waiting. I’m weary of being weary.

But then, this picture pops up on my screen saver.


I remember taking it last May, just over the hill from where we live. The sight of it makes me reel with wonder. The color is so vibrant and fresh, it hurts my eyes. It shouts warmth and growth. I'm flooded with expectant hope.

It's then I remember: Reality isn’t defined by what I feel or what see with my eyes. It’s defined by His promises.

Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth.
(Hosea 6:3)

Will I choose to believe His spring when I’m surrounded by winter?


I wait for the Lord,
my soul waits,

and in his word I put my hope.

(Psalm 130:5)

24 comments:

  1. You read my heart today. All I could muster up was crabbiness because I'm so tired of winter...but THIS post was just what I needed to here. Gonna link to you :) And THANK YOU!

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  2. My grammar is bad, but I do know the difference between hear and here...I just can't type it, apparently ;)

    I blame the weather for any of my shortcomings ;)

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  3. Wow, what a great analogy and reminder.

    Wish you were sitting here in flip-flops with me drinking sweet tea from you-know-where!!

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  4. OK---I live in GA and Spring is coming, but I didn't always live in the South. I grew up in PA and went to college in Buffalo NY and let's just say that the cold weather had a little something to do with why I moved to Orlando after college graduation. So I feel your pain, because I remember it so well. But your attitude to choose is lovely. And this is rather shameless of me, but I think this post kind of fits into my Easter Theme going on at my blog...wouldn't want you to miss a Spring party is all... :-)

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  5. It's cold up here in Western Canada, too. Like minus 40 cold. So thank you for this beautiful thought - I'm glad Sarah linked up to you today!

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  6. Beautiful post. As I rarely have winter, I'd trade places with you for a bit if only I could. *SIGH*

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  7. Great post! I just told my husband I wanted to move to Hawaii last night...I wasn't joking...it's hard to handle to cold and gray sky day after day! Hang in there!

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  8. I'm here from Sarah's blog ... and I too appreciate this post. We branded our calves all weeken in the freezing cold wind ... and I'm desperately seeking to see more of spring!

    Great post!

    blessings ~

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  9. Thanks TONS!! What a very true post. Appreciate it in the midst of this *never-ending* winter.

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  10. yes...I needed this, too...it was a dreary morning. Especially after being teased with such beautiful sunshine last week! Thanks for the reminder...I was also reminded today that the sunshine is always behind the clouds...I just have to believe it. :)

    Thanks

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  11. I found this through Sarah@lifeintheparsonage. It too feel that way in WI today. We had a snowstrom/ice yesterday. Today is sunny and 42. I long for spring. Thank you for your scriptual post.

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  12. Oh my goodness, Kelly, I needed that. The impending foot of snow tomorrow has me nearly out of my mind. Believe in His spring. Believe in His spring. Believe in His spring.

    Thank you!!

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  13. I live in NW Illinois and am feeling your pain. Thanks for the perspective. I needed it badly! Spring come soon, please!

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  14. ugh, you know I feel your pain with the weather. This really helped me today, the picture, the metaphor. The truth. It will come. Even when it doesn't feel like it. Thank you.

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  15. 5? Ouch!

    Spring has started putting in an appearance here, and I can reassure you that it is worth waiting for. Hang in there!

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  16. I'm here by way of Sarah@Life in the Parsonage...now I feel a little bad for my post I did today...stop by and see what I mean. Hang in there girl~it's on it's way (My parents live in Maine and they are holding on to the promise of Spring also!

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  17. What a great post! I can't relate to the weather (it almost reached 80 here today.. although in 2 months it will already be miserably hot). But the illustration was beautiful!

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  18. Thank you! Today was rather dismal, was it not? I could have swam through that fog...

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  19. I so needed to read your quote about reality. Thanks.

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  20. As surely as the sun rises, He is there. Yes, I so needed that today.

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  21. It's like the last lap in the mile - the worst - unless you love running ....

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  22. Beautifully expressed, as only a Minnesotan could...

    I love the promises of Lam. 3:24-25:
    "'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."

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