We have had quite a winter here in the northwest that started a little before the actual season! We had well over a foot of snow on the ground, and it lasted for several days. Temperature warmed up, snow melted, rains came in heavy with winds, rivers flooded, lowlands flooded.... Then today came and the floods receded--lots of clean up left. Today was cold--when I went out to my car this morning it was encased in ice... and it has been dark all day... And I am soooooo sleepy tired all the time... I drag myself around..
Then there is darkness and winter on the soul side too.
A feeling of Narnian Winter... winter without Christmas... Bad news, bad diagnoses, bad reports, reports with BAD on the horizon... kinda like if things are okay, just look at the horizon... BAD is coming...
I have always been a negative, melancholy person... I somehow believed that bad stayed bad.. and only got worse... Dark rises... envelopes, permeates, overtakes...
But the truth is that Jesus Christ is the same... YESTERDAY, TODAY, and FOREVER. HE is the light of the world. He is Christmas Every Day!
Yesterday things hit me really hard. It was a really stormy day outside and I got rocked by some scary news that we don't yet know the outcome.
Things are cyclical.. Winter meshes to Spring meshes to Summer to Autumn and then back to Winter.
I think I have lived in Winter of the soul much longer than necessary because I didn't recognize Spring... Spring is beautiful, but brings on incredible seasonal allergies that can overpower the beauty... Summer can be too hot, too cold, too boring, too busy and isn't recognized for its beauty! Fall can be the most beautiful season, but it is back to school, back to normal, end of vacation... End of hope, if a vacation was especially looked forward to and came and went...
But I am understanding more and more that
GOD DOESN'T CYCLE
.. He is always the same... He is the same the day I get a phone call that rocks my world, as He is the day I get news that makes me sing and dance!
He is always good. He is no less good in Winter... He is good when our best friend dies. He is good when they are miraculously healed. He doesn't change. He is what we have to wrap ourselves up in that our world won't rock quite as bad when a 10. earthquake rocks our world...
God is our Refuge. Our Fortress. A very PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE.
I can't say it any better than this:
Psalm 46 (New Century Version)
1 God is our protection and our strength.
He always helps in times of trouble.
2 So we will not be afraid even if the earth shakes,
or the mountains fall into the sea,
3 even if the oceans roar and foam,
or the mountains shake at the raging sea.
Selah
4 There is a river that brings joy to the city of God,
the holy place where God Most High lives.
5 God is in that city, and so it will not be shaken.
God will help her at dawn.
6 Nations tremble and kingdoms shake.
God shouts and the earth crumbles.
7 The Lord All-Powerful is with us;
the God of Jacob is our defender.
Selah
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
the amazing things he has done on the earth.
9 He stops wars everywhere on the earth.
He breaks all bows and spears
and burns up the chariots with fire.
10 God says, "Be still and know that I am God.
I will be praised in all the nations;
I will be praised throughout the earth."
11 The Lord All-Powerful is with us;
the God of Jacob is our defender.
Selah
