And God Made the Seasons!




Has the weather got you down? Many of us become depressed and even sad as our winter in North Idaho drags on. Punxsutawney Phil recently came out of his burrow, saw his shadow and predicted six more weeks of winter - but none of that really matters in our area where spring rarely is sprung before May. So we wait for that elusive thing - Spring. Our plans for planting in the garden are on hold; boys and girls wait anxiously for baseball to start; and for me, the golf clubs sit beckoning in the corner of my garage. It can all drive us to become a little irritable. So as I sit looking out over my snow-covered lawn, fighting off the winter blues I am reminded of God’s glory in nature. The apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Romans that “...since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made...” (Romans 1:20) From this verse we conclude that God’s glory is revealed to us in creation. That includes the creation of the seasons. Genesis 1:14: “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years.” These verses brought encouragement when I was feeling slightly off - at the prospect of so much continued winter. To know that the God who loves me, whom I love and serve, created the very seasons that mark our year brought a sense of peace. So I reflected upon what I love about Coeur d’ Alene - the trees, the lakes, the beauty revealed in God’s creation. It is the way that it is because that is how God created it. It remains beautiful because of the timing of our seasons - which our Lord also created. God’s power is revealed in his creation and His Word. Ecclesiastes reads in chapter 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” So as we toil on through the season of shoveling snow, remember that Our Lord - who is perfect - has designed this season to replenish our beautiful world. This winter, instead of getting down, let God speak to you through His creation. Reflect on His Word from Psalm 19:1-3: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Listen to His voice, see His glory in nature and have a joy-filled winter season.