THE WARMTH OF WINTER
“Thou hast made summer and winter.” – Psalm 74:17
My soul, begin this wintry month with your God. The cold snow and the sharp winds remind you that He keeps His covenant with day and night—and they reassure you that He will also keep that glorious covenant He has made with you through Christ Jesus. The God who is faithful to His Word in the turning of the seasons—despite this world being stained with sin—will certainly not be unfaithful in anything that concerns His beloved Son.
Winter in the soul is never a comfortable season, and if you are in such a season now, it will feel painful. But here is your comfort: the Lord makes it. He sends the harsh winds of adversity to nip the buds of your expectations. He scatters frost like ashes over what were once green meadows of joy. He casts forth His ice like morsels, freezing the streams of your delight. He does all this—He is the great King of Winter who rules over the realm of frost—and therefore you must not complain.
Losses, disappointments, heaviness of heart, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other troubles come from the Lord’s hand and arrive with wise purpose. Frost destroys harmful insects and halts raging diseases; it breaks up the hardened soil and makes it sweet. Oh, that such good results would always follow the winters of our affliction!
Notice how much we value the fire at this time of year—how pleasant its warm glow! In the same way, let us value our Lord, who is our constant source of warmth and comfort in every trouble. Let us draw near to Him and find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the warm garments of His promises and then go out to the work that fits the season—for it would be shameful to be like the sluggard who refuses to plough because of the cold, and then begs in summer and has nothing.
