You may have noticed driving around that spring is upon us, with many trees in blossom and beginning to bud. If you are over winter, the sign of blossom emerging can fill you with joy and the anticipation of summer, even though there are more cold and rainy days to come. The visible sign on the trees tells us that spring is here, and summer will follow. We see the signs, and the blossoms declare the undeniable promise of the coming summer, despite the reality of us still feeling like we are in winter.
But blossoms and buds don’t just happen overnight, there has been a lot of cell growth and preparation in the trees and plants over the winter months. We don’t see it, and the trees seem to be asleep, but there is stuff happening inside in preparation for spring. Cells are dividing and flowers are forming deep in the bark ready to emerge when the tree gets the right signals from the environment around it.
It reminds me that God is always at work around us, and in our lives, even in the season of winter when we feel nothing is happening or God is absent. When we see no change and it can feel like hope is gone. God is still at work and the Holy Spirit is still very active and doing things that we may not see fruit from for some time to come. Just like the process of buds and blossom, once set in motion it cannot be stopped, even by cold and rain. For centuries people waited for the coming of the promised Messiah, and nothing happened. Yet at just the right time, an angel appeared to Elizabeth and set in motion a chain of hidden events that could not be stopped which culminated in the arrival of a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. God’s most amazing work was about to burst forth and change people’s lives forever.
Sometimes we get to see God bring about things we have hoped and yearned for over a long time. For others, things we hope for and pray for are not realised in the way we long for. But we need to hold on to the faith that just like the hidden work leading to the joy of blossom, God is always at work in our world and in our lives to bring about his kingdom life and renewal. All of this will culminate gloriously one day in the return of Christ. But until then, may we continue to pray in faith, and to trust that God is good, his Spirit is with us. Jesus is still very much at work in our world today as he was when he was physically on earth. So, when you see the blossoms this spring, pause and talk to your heavenly Father who loves you and cares for you more than you realise. Trust in his goodness and don’t let hope drain away.
Grace and Peace - Garry