Spring, that wonderful, awful time of year that we alternately desire and dread its arrival. Desire for the increased sunshine and warmth that comes along with spring. as well as fresh growth spurting up from beneath the freshly thawed earth. at times the endless seeming rain and mud are less than desirable and can make us almost long for the hard frozen earth that had no intention of swallowing us into its maws.
Yet we crave the goodness of spring, the hope of fresh start, the newness in the air. Our desire for spring starts far earlier than the reality of spring is likely to appear. Long before flowers lift their faces to the rising sun, our need for spring wells up inside of us and can even manifest in frustration and irritability when spring does not make a prompt appearance.
In that same way we oftentimes wait for a new season with God. We desire to be closer to Him, to bask in the warmth of His presence, to experience new growth with Him. However as with spring, this growth, this relationship, does not appear instantly or even in the timeframe in line of when we want it. During this season of growth and change there can be times in wish we could just cling to the way things were.
We want change, we just aren’t sure we are willing to pay the price of what that change can mean for us. The waters may fall, flow and rise. The mud might get deep, trapping us from achieving our desires in the timely manner we were hoping for. Why cant God be more in tune with our time frame? Why cant He just appear and bring the spring? During this time, the desire to lash out, to grunt and growl in frustration, can come upon us darkening the skies of our perception and blinding us to the small signs that spring is coming.
Before spring comes the subtle signs of its pending arrival are out there, if we only just pay attention. The growth of the buds on the trees before the first leaves appear. The beginning growth of the first of the spring plants, the birds returning to sing in the trees. So also is God working in our lives.
He is there even when we cant see the evidence of His presence. He is still in control, preparing the ground in our hearts so that spring will blossom abundantly there. The path is not always without storms or mud, but God can and will lead us through every obstacle, and bring us through to the other side. And when we get there, the sun will be shining once again.
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