Oct 25th, 2020: Facing the Winter of Our Soul
We had our first snowstorm this week. It always creates havoc for some people because they didn't adjust their driving habits. As the snow falls, the number of cars gets off the road rises. The more it snows, the less we can see. The first snow is beautiful and pure, but it won't stay that way long. We now need to prepare ourselves mentally for another six months of winter.
Winter can be a drag if we are afraid of the cold weather. We just have to decide that it is part of life if we choose to live in Canada. We need to make the necessary adjustments accordingly. We either complain about the cold weather or enjoy the fact that we have four different seasons.
Being negative about life doesn't make things better. Many of us have learned that lesson during the time we had to be isolated. It is hard to be positive at times because we don't have the vision for what is ahead. Steadfastness helps to endure the loneliness of isolation. Being angry will make things worse.
Similar experiences can happen to our relationship with God. Sometimes it is going through a very dreadful cold season. We don't like how we feel. We don't enjoy what God is telling us. Our heart is cold toward Him. We complain that He doesn't understand us. We resent the fact that we have to deal with the harshness of life. We want Him to make things better. We then discover the numbness of our heart toward other people as well. We raise our fist toward Him and say that we have had enough. We don't have any idea of how to live with hope and joy. We are in despair because nothing we try works. We quietly remove ourselves from others. The winter of the soul continues.
We then realize that there is a warm fire that God has prepared for us. He invites us to come and participate. But we say we are too busy with our anxious life to enjoy His blessings. The invitation comes with the promise that we will be able to overcome our misery and receive the restoration. We listen but don't fully understand or believe. We shut the door. Suddenly, we hear the knocking on the door of our heart. God wants us to let Him in. The choice is ours. We either remain in the coldness of the winter of our soul or embrace the warmness of God's presence that enters our heart.
Are you prepared for the winter physically or spiritually?
Hebrews 4: 12
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
