Winter In My Heart

Lately, I’ve been feeling winter.  In my spirit.  It’s just felt kind of . . . cold.  Like I want to curl up inside myself and wait for the onset of spring with all of it’s excitement and anticipation.  And warmth.  And beauty.I can’t really put my finger on the cause.  I can’t even pinpoint when it started.  But I feel it.  In my being.  Wondering where the excitement of following hard after Jesus has gone.  Waiting for the return of the juice-filled, beautiful fruit that is joy and peace.  So I can live off of it.  And enjoy it in all of its juicy succulence.  Where has it gone?  Or has it gone?  Could it just be joy and peace with a different face?  The naked face that shows its raw beauty.  The kind of joy that simmers deep down inside.  The peace that truly “transcends all understanding.” 

The other day, I was looking out the car window admiring the snow-covered trees and noticing their barrenness.  And it occurred to me that, even in winter, God displays His mercy and beautiful provision in all of creation.  For, He provides protection from the freezing cold by allowing the leaves to die off before the snow comes.  (well, usually…except for when there’s an early freeze or a late frost.  But I digress.)And it occurred to me that maybe, in this wintertime of my spirit, He is actually displaying His mercy and provision somehow.  Maybe He’s protecting me from something.  Or preparing for something.  Some sort of deep freeze that might hurt my tender fruit were it to be in full bloom.  Or maybe He just wants to show the raw beauty that is winter.  In even me.  And I was reminded of His tender mercies that are not only new every morning but in every season of life, too.And there, in that moment, He reminded me that He is perfect in all His ways.  “You are good and what you do is good.” (Psalm 119:68)  Even in winter.  Even in my soul’s winter.What about you?  Do you know what I’m talking about?  Do you ever have wintertimes in your spirit?  How has God encouraged you through them?  I would love to hear.I’m unwrapping the gift of today with a bunch of other beautiful bloggers over at Tuesdays Unwrapped.  And I’m really looking forward to reading them.  Hope you will too.