Are You Waiting For Spring?

“for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)  

 

Are you waiting for spring to arrive? No, I’m not talking about the spring season on the earth, I’m talking about a spring season in your life. I don’t know about you but I am. I look back on my life and I feel like most if not all of it has been fraught with suffering, oppression of some sort, and loneliness. I’m tired of languishing in this and ready for God to turn to me and shine the dawning of spring into my life. I so want to feel the warmth of his glory shining on my face, I want to see the new growth and bask in the glory of the newness and beauty of it all. I just want to lay over in the new grass and wildflowers and hear the sweet singing of the birds around me.  

Ok, so I’m speaking metaphorically again but I think we all can identify with my word pictures. There is some winter season that you have either been through in the past, are in now, or will go through in the future. If you can’t already you will one day be able to identify with this. 

We all need to remember when we go through these times that these are the times that we need to draw ever closer to God. Don’t walk away, go towards Him even further and seek Him out with all of your might. 

 

“So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] Lord [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” (Hosea 6:3) 

“But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.” (Matthew 6:33) 

 

I think it’s important to remember these two verses, especially in our darkest hours and in our deepest pain. Let’s mix up Psalm 23 here just a little bit and reorder the verses.  

 

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (v.4-5) 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (v.1-3) 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (v.6)” (Psalm 23) 

 

I think it’s nice to look at it like this because during our darkest and most painful times the Psalm tells us that God is with us, guiding us and watching over us. This Psalm gives us hope for that spring season that we have been longing for and aching for in our lives. 

 

“Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your healing (restoration, new life) will quickly spring forth; Your righteousness will go before you [leading you to peace and prosperity], The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:8)  

  

God, You are our Shepherd, our defender, and the bible says in James 1 verse 17 that every good and perfect gift comes from You. We ask that You would guide us from this valley, this cold and dark place in our lives into the light of Your face and a glorious spring season in our lives. We ask that You would bless us and return joy, goodness, and compassion for our suffering, pain, and loneliness. God, we look to You and we have hope because of the saving blood and resurrection of Christ Jesus who is our Rock and our Salvation. AMEN!!!