Seasons

I found an old dead tree I had to take a picture of, so I could paint it.  But, I don’t really know if it’s dead. It’s winter.  The tree could just be in its dormant season. It made me think.

At one time in all our lives, we were dead, dead in sin.  But if we found the Son, He brought us into light and life. And not life for a season, but life everlasting.

But then I thought about the tree again.  In the spring, the tree will find the sun, and it will again be alive and thriving.  It’s only ‘dead’ for a season. We too can appear dead. When there are seasons in our lives marked by trials, we may appear dead.  Depression, grief, financial worries, sickness,  injury; all these seasons can drain us of our life, our happiness, and hope if we allow them.  But if we have the Son in our lives, our hearts, we can be resurrected.  We can live again, producing fruit through our testimony of how God has restored us.

Does this mean we will not have scars or wounds? Will we be physically whole? Not necessarily.  I have to think of the miracles I see occurring every day.  A baby girl was born at 22 weeks, weighing 12 oz and measuring 5 inches long, fighting for her life. A young high school student is breathing on her own 2 weeks after a traumatic car accident. Our wounded warriors who could have died on the battlefield are returning home to spend their lives with their families. They will be able to watch their children grow up. A cancer survivor who can mentor and support those currently dealing with this horrific disease. Even I, less than 12 minutes from death, left the hospital 10 days after being intubated and having a tracheotomy, being told I would be there for at least a month.

When we have fruit to sow, God has plans for our lives, and we will come out of our season of darkness into His Light of Life and live again.

So, as you walk through this winter, don’t feel sad that the trees have died.  See their beauty and remember they will soon see the sun and be renewed to life. And seek The Son in your life, so you can be raised from your death by the Glory of God to have Newness of Life in Him. (Romans 6:4)