I was born and raised in Michigan. The seasons no longer surprise me. It snows in the winter and gets cold. It gets hot in the summer. The leaves turn and fall in the Autumn. And the flowers bloom in the Spring rains.
Each transition from one season to another brings anticipation to my heart. When will we get the first snow? When will the maples light up the world in dazzling reds? When will the snow drops pop up through the thawed ground?
We are in such a stage between seasons right now. And the waiting is excellent. I know the late snow and cold annoys many people, but in honesty, I believe that the annoyance demonstrates a bit of an impatience that is growing in our culture. For some reason we lose the hope, delight, and joy that can result from delayed gratification. This late snow will make the warmer days of Spring all the more joyful. Going through the winter gives the Spring a purpose in my heart.
And this Spring, I am reminded of the value of waiting well. The Christian life is a life of waiting.
We ought to take every opportunity we have to wait well. To practice waiting with gladness. To wait with patience. To wait with hope. And what better way to practice waiting, then to practice for something that is as sure as the seasons?God’s faithfulness is demonstrated by the way he has designed the earth to tilt producing seasons. We know the flowers WILL bloom. We know that we will be eating ice cream just to cool down in a matter of a couple of months. What a great practice for the long wait of our lifetimes.
And this waiting is not static. We do the things we are called to with zeal . . . While we wait.
The apostle Paul said it this way to his young disciple Titus, “11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” – Titus 2:11-14
How well are you doing at waiting practice?