Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. Song of Solomon 2:11-12
Romantic relationships, as well as our relationship with God, go through seasons. Sometimes, we feel as if we’re in the midst of winter, mustering the discipline to keep going even through there’s little warmth. The deadness of plants in late winter symbolizes the barrenness of our hearts, but it doesn’t last forever. Soon, the first signs of spring appear, warmth returns, and hope fills our hearts.
We can learn a lot about walking with God by observing mature marriages. They begin with the heat of passion and the idealism of pure love, but when the honeymoon ends, reality hits husbands and wives hard. A time of reassessment is necessary but challenging. If they fail to rebuild their relationship based on realistic expectations and good communication, the marriage becomes an empty shell. However, if the winter of discontent ultimately leads to richer conversations and deeper affection, the marriage flourishes as never before.
In the same way, many of us began our Christian experience with great joy and high hopes. In those early days, God gives us wonderful experiences to confirm our faith. Then sooner or later, He may choose a more difficult curriculum for us. Struggles, disappointments, and misunderstandings about the nature of the Christian life threaten our fledgling faith, but the winter season provides the opportunity to go deeper and grow closer to God.
In the seasons of the year, in romantic relationships, and in our walks with God, the beauty of spring doesn’t come without the dormancy of winter. If we develop greater trust when it’s cold and dark, we’ll experience more love in the warmth of spring. (-Zig Ziglar)
We can learn a lot about walking with God by observing mature marriages. They begin with the heat of passion and the idealism of pure love, but when the honeymoon ends, reality hits husbands and wives hard. A time of reassessment is necessary but challenging. If they fail to rebuild their relationship based on realistic expectations and good communication, the marriage becomes an empty shell. However, if the winter of discontent ultimately leads to richer conversations and deeper affection, the marriage flourishes as never before.
In the same way, many of us began our Christian experience with great joy and high hopes. In those early days, God gives us wonderful experiences to confirm our faith. Then sooner or later, He may choose a more difficult curriculum for us. Struggles, disappointments, and misunderstandings about the nature of the Christian life threaten our fledgling faith, but the winter season provides the opportunity to go deeper and grow closer to God.
In the seasons of the year, in romantic relationships, and in our walks with God, the beauty of spring doesn’t come without the dormancy of winter. If we develop greater trust when it’s cold and dark, we’ll experience more love in the warmth of spring. (-Zig Ziglar)
