The walk around the lake is so very different this time of year. There are far fewer people out walking. Barren of their leaves, the trees seem dead. There are no brightly colored flowers and no fields of plants with seemingly infinite shades of green. Everything not covered by the snow is brown. Even the few evergreens seem somber.

The lake itself seems to have changed in character. It's now a barren looking wasteland of silver ice and white patches of snow. There are no ducks, no geese, and no muskrats. Gone for the season are the dragonflies, the water skimmers and the jumping trout. A cap has been placed on the lake for the winter.

It's almost as if all life has been withdrawn from the lake. The lake seems barren and lonely. It looks cold and lifeless.

I know though that it is only temporary. In a few short months the ice will begin to melt, the grass and flowers will spring back and the waterfowl will return. The insects and fish are still there, hidden by the protective ice cap or gone dormant for the winter. The people will be out the first warm sunny day.

Winter is part of life.

Sometimes the winter season isn't weather. We can go through physical, emotional and spiritual winter as well. In the midst of those winter seasons, we wonder where God is. We wonder if the spring will ever come again. We wonder why we have to go through winter at all.

He hasn't abandoned us in those times. He isn't just a God for good times. He is The God for all times, summer, winter, spring and fall. He is the God that cares and walks with us through the darkest of sorrows and the bleakest of winters. He is the God that knows the pain of rejection and the sorrow of loss. He is the God who knows what it can cost to do the right thing even when everything seems stacked against you.

Jesus had His own winters. He was rejected by his hometown. His disciples deserted him. He was persecuted and crucified even though He was innocent. He bore the pain and suffering of all Father's wrath for our sins.

He came through it all, scarred but victorious. He came through it humble but exalted. He came as the suffering lamb but returns as the victorious lion.

Whatever you are facing right now, God is still good. He is still in control. He cares and He understands. He doesn't change even when our circumstances and feelings do.

God is good, all the time! Even we don't feel like things are right, the Old Testament alone reminds us 41 times that "His love endures forever."

Anyone can walk with us in the spring and summer. Some can walk with us in the fall. It takes a rare love to walk with us in the winter. He is God and loves us all year long. He is more than a summer love, and even more than a winter love, He is our eternal love.

Until next time, no matter what you face, give Him praise.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah

http://gleaningsfromtheword.com/

Kevin

Life can be hard. We all walk through times of rejection, pain, isolation and darkness. You don't have to face it alone. There is a person who will walk through it all with you. That person is Jesus Christ.

If you haven't made the decision to accept Christ as Lord