Psalm
46:10-11
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep..."-Robert Frost
We traversed the curvy hill into town. Foliage slept in an array of gold and brown
on the ground. Trees rested their slender, naked limbs. Even in winter without
snow, the scene took on a lovely glow and a story of hope.
Deciduous
trees conserve water, a scarcity in the cold or dry months. Their time of rest
allows them to re-energize and prepare for the coming spring when leaves sprout
again.
The gray of
winter often brings on sadness, depression, anxiety, or lack of energy. Yet,
I've learned from the trees to rest in winter, to be still, and embrace the
quiet. Even when the world isn't quiet, I cherish time to sit with God and seek
his wisdom.
God knows I
need winter. I crave a time to reconnect and kneel before his throne and worship
the Creator. Like the trees, I raise my arms to him and let the stress of life
drop like leaves.
Even as he
asks me to be still and know, the Lord promises to sit with me. He is my refuge
and fortress. I see him in the evergreens, a constant reminder of the steadiness of God.
This spending time with God isn't always easy. Some days I wake up prepared for the quiet, the prayer, the listening. But other days, I've struggled. I want to
sleep instead of rise and worship—Some days chaos trumps stillness—Sometimes dread overwhelms and frustration lingers. But I
won't give up. I continue to strive to find the quiet and be still before the King, to offer gratitude for everyday life.
Find moments
in the winter days to stop, be still, and hear from the God who loves you.
