She JourneysSample

Winter - Written by Meg Cooke

Day 1 - Winter Comes for Us All 

“Like the frost on a rose, winter comes for us all, oh how nature acquaints us, with the nature of patience” (Hillsong worship, Seasons) 

Whether your experience of Winter is frost, rain, storms or simply a lower temperature, it’s a season we all experience  As nature has seasons, so we also have seasons in our own lives. 

God tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.  This alone should encourage us greatly, because regardless of how we feel, the message is that God has designed the experience of humans to be purposeful in every season of life. 

Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes goes on to describe a multitude of seasons, some of which sound more desirable than others.  We can liken the Winter season to the following: a time to die (v2); a time to uproot (v2); a time to kill (v3); a time to weep (v4); a time to mourn (v4); a time to give up (v6); a time to throw away (v6); a time to tear (v7); a time to hate (v8) and a time for war (v8).

These seasons aren’t desirable but they are inevitable and planned by God.  Logically, if these seasons are inevitable then they have great purpose, because God is not wasteful.

We will be exploring the purpose of Winter over the next few days, but we must first come to terms with the responsibility we have to not just endure the winter season, but learn how it can be navigated. 

Ask yourself: What is your usual response to winter seasons? What do you need to change about your attitude to get the most out of the winter season?

Perhaps it is to hibernate and isolate yourself or to give into coping mechanisms you have developed over the years to protect yourself.  

Our response to winter is determined by our perspective of winter. If you view winter as a season to simply stay still and endure, than that is what it will be. Conversely, if you view it as a season of endless purpose and possibility then that is what it will be. 

Whatever your response is, ask God whether you need to adapt your approach to get the most out of this season. If winter seasons are inevitable, you may as well squeeze as much purpose out of them as possible, right?

Remind yourself:

1. God is not absent
   
   Isaiah 43:2 


2. Winter develops the hope and faith necessary for the next season
   
   Romans 5:3-5 


3. Winter is temporary
   
   2 Corinthians 4:16-18