Winter.

Winter.

I am not a fan.

At all.

I saw a post the other day that said something to the effect of not being able to wait until it's at least 70 out and doesn't get light until 9pm. I LOVED that post. Really, really loved it. 

I find myself groaning and moaning and complaining about winter all of the time. I'm such a wimp when it comes to cold weather. And, my hypothyroidism doesn't help the situation. I have a countdown to spring going. I love the newness of spring and all the beauty it brings.

But I got to thinking, what am I missing that the winter can teach me?

Winter is a time of rest for much of creation. This is probably the biggest reason winter is important and many of the other reasons all tie back to this one reason.

Many plants and animals are not to be found in the winter months. This hibernation helps them to come back healthier and stronger in the coming seasons. I too need to learn to rest. To have a Sabbath day of rest. A weekly season where I rest to come back into the next week healthier and stronger and closer to the Lord than I was the week before. 

Winter appears slower (with the exception of the holidays). The colder temperatures keeps many people from the go, go, go pace of life we usually find ourselves in. There are seemingly fewer things to do. Definitely not as many outdoor events. Again this slower pace of life during winter can lead to potentially having more time to spend growing closer to the Lord and hearing his guidance for our lives in the upcoming seasons. I probably shouldn't hibernate away for the entire season, which is what I would prefer to do. But it is ok to take a season of rest, of intentionally slowing down.

God created the Earth, he created the seasons. He knew that winter was necessary for earth. Even the harshness of winter, the cold, the snow and all that comes with winter can give way to the goodness and newness of spring in a matter of weeks. Even in our own harsher seasons of life, goodness may be waiting just around the corner. God is in control of all of things, even when these are things we feel like hold no purpose for us. Such as winter feels to me.

I don't think I will ever love winter. I don't think I will ever look forward to winter. And I think that's ok. We don't generally love the hard places. I hope to see it more as a place that helps me truly appreciate the places I do love. I hope to start seeing it as a place of renewal because I trust that God uses all things for good, even winter.