Bitter Winter of the Soul
Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV)
The word “Lent” finds its roots in the Old English word “lencten”, meaning “spring season”. Winters can be dark and long, but they are vital to our world’s ecosystem.
Many of us have endured an unusually long and hard winter. They even closed the schools one day, here in North Florida, because the temperature was below freezing! Of course, during the six weeks I spent with my daughter and her husband in upstate New York, there were very few days that the temperature even rose above freezing!
But it always seems to me that after these particularly bitter winters, Spring bursts forth with greater vitality and passion. Life explodes where once there was dormancy and death.
All of us who follow Jesus will endure some hard spiritual winters. Times when our hearts feel cold and dark and God seems far away. These spiritual winters are not necessarily the presence of sin or disobedience. Sometimes in the all-knowing wisdom of God, he allows us to experience dormancy and yes, even death.
Yet, inevitably Spring returns to our lives. It bursts forth in the deepest parts of our spirits bringing life in its fulness. Life such as we’ve never known before. And as a result, fruitfulness, and joy replace barrenness and despair.
Are you experiencing a bitter winter of the soul? As dark and cold as things may seem, Spring is coming and the warmth and presence of God’s Son will restore the joy of your salvation.
In Christ,
Dan