She Journeysமாதிரி

Spring - Written by Claire Hailwood

Day 8

In the UK there is a small white flower called a snowdrop that grows on forest floors. I had the privilege of growing up near a forest with a Mum on a never ending quest to make a gardner out of one of her children! Therefore we would often go for walks in the forest and play ‘spot the snowdrop’. After we’d seen the first snowdrop my Mum would announce ‘spring is here’ as though to officially usher in the new season. Irrespective of the weather, we would go looking for snowdrops. In the rain, dressed in winter coats, hats and gloves, with no obvious sign of spring, but confident that it was coming.

In Isaiah 43 : 18-19 (NIV), God speaks to His people who have been rebellious, who were experiencing exile and disappointment, who knew the reality of the ‘winter’ season. Because He dearly loves them, He speaks out hope, and a glimpse of what is to come. 

There are two significant things we can learn as we enter in to a ‘spring’ season:

1. Don’t allow what has gone before to rob you of the newness that is to come

Our mind and the thoughts that occupy them are powerful. We can stay longer in ‘winter’ by allowing our thoughts to dwell there. We can miss the first glimpse of the snowdrop because our whole focus is on the rain that is falling. Too often we fix our attention on the things that have gone before that were challenging and discouraging. Sometimes we even enjoy wallowing in self pity instead of remembering the promise of the new and the certainty of God’s faithfulness.

The verses in Philippians 4 : 6-8 (TPT), remind us to FASTEN our thoughts on to ‘every glorious work of God’. Not remember occasionally and begrudgingly but to FASTEN our thoughts to God’s goodness. So even when we can’t see the signs of spring YET, our thoughts are fixed on who God is and our eyes and hearts are ready for the new that will come.

2. Look for it! Be alert and expectant

There were times as children that my siblings and I went looking for these flowers and didn’t see them, but we always went out expectantly! There were times when the winter had been so harsh that there was actual snow on the ground, making white flowers challenging to find, so we had to look even harder. 

God is faithful and keeps His promises, so even in our ‘winter’ seasons we can look for the signs of spring. Reminders of His goodness in the midst of great challenge point to things to come. Small opportunities to do or try new things, to meet new people may be glimpses of the transformation He’s doing in and through us. 

ASK

• What are your thoughts fixed on? Are they fixed on former things that you need to leave behind in order to step in to what is to come?
• What signs of ‘spring’ are there in your life that you may have missed? How can you look more expectantly?