To Showcase His Glory

I confess. I did my fair share of murmuring and complaining last winter. If you were not here or if you are one of those arctic type people who think snow falling in May is actually exciting, then you may not understand. It’s not that I don’t like snow; it’s just that I like to see it come AND go. A few inches in a few days is grand, everyone is excited to see snowmen sprouting up like weeds and who can deny the thrill of watching your grandkids race down the hill on their bright red sleds!

There is nothing more beautiful than waking up to a winter wonderland…in December…or January…or even February. But when the last vestige of snow finally sneaks away the first of May, well, you get the picture.

As you might guess, winter is not my favorite season. I tolerate it. Ask any one of my children in what season I find my greatest joy and they will respond without hesitation, “Autumn”. I absolutely revel in God’s beautiful tapestry of red and yellow, gold and orange, all set against a crisp sky of blue. The kids always cringed when asking me to drive them somewhere in the month of October, knowing full well they would be admonished to “Look at that tree!” Not once, not twice, but multiple times in but a few miles!

This year has been especially striking! From the blazing maples to the shimmering aspens, I cannot recall a year where the color has been more breathtaking. (I’m sure my children are most thankful they are now adults and can drive themselves where they want to go.) How could such exquisite beauty exist in this high desert we call home?

As I pause to try and capture the moment, I find myself thanking my Creator for not only surrounding me with such grandeur, but for creating me with the ability and desire to enjoy it. Yet even in that moment I cannot help but realize that soon the radiant hues of fall will give way to the barren starkness of winter and without warning, my joy is diminished, until…. until God reminded me of His promise in Isaiah 55:

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts, says the Lord.

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth and makes it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please...

For you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands!

Without the snow of winter, there would be no clapping trees of fall. Without the cold dark days of winter, when the earth lies shrouded in silence, there would be no autumn symphony of color to proclaim the glory of our Creator!

So it is in our lives. If it were up to me, I would choose to live each day surrounded by the spectacular and awe inspiring. I would ask that winter never breathe its icy chill upon my soul. But that is not the way of our Lord. It is in the dark, wintery days of our life that He often does His greatest work.


In those times when it seems
all hope is lost,
buried beneath
mounting snowdrifts of doubt
and sorrow.........

it is in those times God is preparing to showcase His glory !