For some people winter is a drudgery. It’s something to “get through,” especially for many who live in NEPA. But what if instead of getting through it we could get something out of it. Here are four ways to embrace winter to the glory of God.
#1 Use winter to rest and recharge.
The first thing we can do in winter is rest and recharge. God rested after creating the world, and He calls us to rest. There are times He forces us to rest because we need it, or He needs us to stop to speak to us. This is why Psalm 23:2a says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
Winter can be a time of rest. While it gets darker sooner and it is colder out, there is less for us to do. Job even talks about this in Job 37:6-7 – there are times God sends snow to “stop all people from their labor.” Use the winter to rest and recharge.
#2 Practice joy in all circumstances.
There are times in our lives when God uses trials to grow us as believers. If you are not a fan of winter, this can be a time to help you grow spiritually. In I Thessalonians 5:18 we are told to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
If you can find joy in the things you don’t like, you can shine God’s glory to others. There are many ways to find joy in winter. First, find beauty in winter. The snow and ice give us a painting of nature that we don’t have the rest of the year. Second, enjoy activities that you can’t enjoy the rest of the year. Third, enjoy the fact that you do get to rest and recharge.
#3 Look forward to eternity like you do spring.
Winter is a time to think about spring. We don’t want to wish winter away because it is a part of our lives. In part, we can spend time looking forward to spring and renewal. Solomon talks about looking forward to winter passing and flowers coming in Song of Solomon 2:11-12.
This can remind us of how to look forward to spending eternity with Christ in His presence. Peter talks about this in II Peter 3:11-12 when he writes, “waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” There are parallels we can see.
#4 Think about the cleansing of your sins.
Winter is a time to look at snow and be reminded of the cleansing of our sins. During and after a snowstorm we see purity. Everything is white and clean.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord; through your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
What is your perspective on winter? Do you just try to get through it or embrace it? How can you think about winter differently to glorify God?
Thanks for taking time to read this Maddening Theology post. If you enjoyed this content you can find Pastor Tim’s sermons at www.cornerstoneforestcity.org. You can also join us at 520 Marion St. Browndale, PA 18421 on Sundays at 10 AM. To make following the blog easier you can also register. You can also join us on Facebook at Cornerstone Forest City. Also, don’t forget to download our APP on iTunes or Googleplay