From year to year, I forget that seasons are an allegory of the spirit.
Winter has passed, and spring has come, and with it new hope, new growth, and new vision. I don’t care for winter, except for the beautiful holiday time. Yet I’ve come to know it brings a painful but necessary spiritual pruning. Pain can quickly bury those memories of beautiful colored flowers, the warm sun, and the singing birds, but those memories are my rod and staff.
The carnal way of facing painful situations involves moving through the difficulty as quickly as possible, but God might not remove the trial. Our Father knows best. He’ll guide us through by helping us recall His goodness and by granting us strength for the journey. He doesn’t want us to dwell on the pain. He wants us to give thanks during and through the painful circumstances.
I often thought God’s purpose for the trials was for me to give Him glory, which is partially true. But even more is for us to know Him and His trustworthiness well enough that we can give thanksgiving while walking through the valley of the shadow of death—knowing His faithfulness will resolve the problem in His timing. God did this for Job by restoring all his riches and more.
The Father already knows what we need. He wants to prune the rocks and weeds of our soul so we will trust Him for our needs.
Surrender to God in your trial because surrender is an act of faith that shows Him your trust.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Vicki Mattingly resides in Orlando with her family, brother, sister, nieces, and nephews. A Christian for more than thirty years, she is an active church member involved with medical prayer encouragement, music and worship, grief share care, and a prayer website with poetic devotions. Vicki’s passion is to love others with the same kind of love God loves us with.