Understand and Pray Through Your Spiritual WinterSample

Winter Trees

In winter, the tree is stripped of all outward covering. Then we see the real tree—unprotected, naked, without pretense—for everybody to see! Then, we can see the knobbly, crooked, and broken branches, fungus, and the scars left by pruning. The branches of winter trees stand black and stark with outstretched arms. They are helpless and vulnerable, ashamed and confused.

Isn’t this how we feel in the winter of life? In summer, the tree uses all its energy and ability to make itself attractive and to bear fruit. In the process, the tree uses and consumes all of its energy without noticing it. In summer, the tree loses its strength. It uses its energy to grow leaves and produce fruit—unaware that it loses its power and ability to bear fruit.

Winter comes so that the tree may recover its energy and recharge for the new season. After every season of fruitfulness, there is a winter—a recovery period. Spiritually, there are times when we need to withdraw and rest. If we ignore this spiritual reality, we will destroy ourselves.

Take Time To Pray and Surrender

It is good for us to see ourselves as we really are – without all our accolades, our position, and what people think of us.

Let us ask God to show us our true selves and bring to Him everything that is broken, everything that is not acceptable, and everything that doesn’t bear fruit. Admit it and lay it at His Feet. God is forgiving and full of tenderness. He knows our weaknesses and knows that we are made of dust. We can safely surrender ourselves to Him.