Winterized by the Word
A deciduous tree knows seasons. In fall mossy green alights into breathtaking orange, but only for a flash. Soon winter strips her bare. Disrobed she will look barren. But motionless, with deep roots resting beneath frozen ground, she ever so slowly grows stronger. In a sense, the tree prospers in winter fulfilling its God intended purpose. Yes, she will appear dead to the untrained eye, the man who told me more than I ever cared to know about this tree assured me, “But what she does in winter will lead to lush green in Spring.”
Are you in winter? Not the slush, salt, bone chilling, chains on tires, six-month stuff of Wisconsin, no. Are you in a spiritual winter? God seems distant. Days are longer. Heart is cold. Weary of the world’s drama. Where is the color in my life? Either you are in a spiritual winter or like the weather winter, soon it will be here for you. Old man spiritual winter is no respecter of persons. He comes to all sooner or later.
Remember this then. The blessed person, likened to the tree in Psalm 1, finds their delight meditating on God, day and night. “… but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 -That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:2,3).
Planted. Fruitful. Un-withered. Prosperous. Aren’t those the blessings you want? They are yours. All from meditating on God’s word - singing it, crying over the pages, taking your angry heart to his Word for answers, confessing sin, rejoicing in a loving Savior, rediscovering your identity in him, and seeing again how his works and character invite you to fall in faith all over again. Let’s call it being, “Winterized by the Word.”
A father tucked his boy into bed with a good night prayer. He went down stairs to catch the evening news. Fifteen minutes later there was a body thud from his little man’s bedroom upstairs and then crying. Discovering his boy had fallen out of bed the father asked, “Son, what happened?” Blubbering, the boy said, “I don’t know dad. I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.”
We adults make the same mistake in the spiritual realm, in all seasons. Refuse to stay in the same spot spiritually. Stay in the Word, my friend. Grow in grace. Ralph Waldo Emerson was noted for greeting friends with the question, “What has become clearer to you since we last met?” Ask yourself, “What about Christ has become clearer to me?”
Staying in the Word won’t always seem nourishing or even enjoyable. Seemingly barren seasons can convince us it isn’t worth it. But winter is a time when the inside can be nourished even when what is outside feels dead. “What she does in winter will lead to lush green in Spring” - was the counsel I got from my self-appointed tree expert.
So pray through a verse on some days. Other days memorize a passage. Take walks with earbuds filling your ears with Psalms. Discuss a “Time of Grace” video or your Pastor’s sermon with a friend. And for heaven’s sake, yes, literally for heaven’s sake turn off the media! Make it your new goal to be “Winterized by the Word.” And you watch, Jesus will make you even more lush and beautiful and planted than the tree below, all for the glory of his name. Jesus see to it - in your life and mine.