Winters

The spiritual life, fruitfulness, must have its winters. Trees produce fruit “in their season.” A proof of sonship is discipline. The struggle to do all things through Christ emanates from a life that has learned to be content in both full and empty times. And learning is a process—a life-long process for the child of God. And strength depends on my willingness to admit and embrace the weaknesses designed to undermine my self-sufficiency, my spiritual pride, the ludicrous idea that I can somehow “spiritualize” the natural man that is me. Only my total dependence on the Spirit’s enabling power—His all-sufficient grace—can empower me to be transformed into His likeness—to be Christ-in-the-room wherever He sends me. The winters of life, when God prunes away the “me” that gets in the way of Him radiating through my life, are a necessity. We must always have our winters.
In the winters of my times of doubt, when circumstances have me questioning His love, the Spirit leads me through Gethsemane to the foot of the cross—for me He died. I am unimaginably and undeniably loved by God.
In the winters of my spiritual busyness, when human effort finds me frustrated and overwhelmed, the Spirit whispers, “Peace, be still. I Am God. I Am the One who works within you to do My will. Surrender. Trust. Find your delight in Me.”
In the winters of loss, when one I love or things I cherish are taken from me, the Spirit reassures, “I will never, ever, not for a moment leave you or forsake you.”
In the winters of my failures, when I find myself flat on my face in defeat, the Spirit reminds me, “You are more than a conqueror through the One who loves you with an inescapable, eternal love.”
In the winters of my disillusionment, when I find that my Demas, for the love of the world, has forsaken me, the Spirit sends me a Titus to remind me that many are the faithful.
In the winters of my overwhelming needs, when I find myself in deep and urgent want, the Spirit sets the sure promise before me, “I will supply all you need from the vast inexhaustible storehouses of My glory.”
In the winters of my darkness, when I cannot see the way ahead, the Spirit encourages, “He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your going out as the noon day.” The darkness is light to Him. And darkness cannot put out the light.
Winters are God’s way to lead me from relying on my inadequate strengths and to compel me into the omnipotent arms of my preeminent Savior. Less of me. More of Him. “Without Me, you can do nothing.”

Without a winter there can be no spring. And every winter has a spring. 

“Try me, my Savior. Make me more like Thee.”