If we listen to comments about the weather on TV or in the supermarket we might believe that Spring is not coming this year. Voices raised almost to the point of hysteria proclaim that the temperatures have not yet moved into normal range and snow still dominates the forecast, threatening to keep kids home from school - again! It is almost as though rational people are afraid that by some apocalyptic shift, winter might continue through the rest of the year.
Yet, this fear is not universal. Not at all afraid are the jonquil stalks that have thrust themselves through the frozen ground, the crocuses showing themselves timidly among last Fall's unraked leaves, and the yellow tipped buds on the forsythia bushes, prepared to burst into bloom on the first warm day. The birds attempting to build their nests among the artificial plants on my neighbor's deck are not afraid. Do they know something we don't seem to believe? Yes! They know Spring is coming.
Sometimes, in our relationship with God, we reach a place where our
fears overwhelm us. As wives attempt to set appropriate boundaries and break the patterns of the emotionally abusive behavior of a loved one, we know from the Word that the Lord is
ever-present with us; that he is attentive to our prayers; that we abide in his
unchanging love. Yet we are distracted by the signs that he will not care for us. In our fear, we fret, worry, and often give up, hopelessly returning to the old patterns We are concerned that God won't
show up in our time of struggle. Instead, we must watch expectantly
for the signs that he is working things out for our good according to his Will
for us. Even in our prolonged Winter of turmoil we must press on as though we know Spring is coming.
