As I write today, the wind howls and meteorologists
are promising frigid weather for the next several days. The weekend may include
precipitation in undetermined kind and amount. Mercy. My Canadian and northern U.S.
friends are probably laughing at my winter weather issues, but we folks in the
South live in the sunshine and struggle with these arctic blasts.
It’s
about this time of the year I start watching in nature for a hopeful sign of
spring.
I
can usually count on that coming in the form of a crocus.
The crocus dates to at least several hundred years before Christ and is included in writings from most of recorded history . Saffron which is taking form the fall blooming crocus is mentioned in the Song of Solomon (4:13-14) and is one of the most expensive spices in the world.
For me, a crocus is an example of what the
Psalmist calls a sign of God’s goodness. (Psalm 86:17).
When the ground is frozen solid, and even
covered with icy precipitation, somehow a crocus can push through the seeming permafrost
and unfold its yellow, purple, or white petals as if to say, “Hey, keep up your
hope. Spring is coming.”
And don’t we need that encouragement right
now? I see the loving nature of God in the crocus because God knew we would
need the shot of beauty the crocus brings at this bleakest time of year.
You won’t see photos of Christmas
gatherings on my social media this year, because things didn’t go as planned
due to sickness and other issues—a lot of disappointment. Some of that
continues, but I’ll tell you this, despite all that’s been going on, we are
keeping up our hope.
Paul wrote, “May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you
may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). Even if the crocus doesn’t bloom for some
reason, we still hope because God has given us His Spirit for encouragement and
inspiration to keep our eyes looking up, looking forward to who God is and all
that He will do. And if we’re talking about signs, look no further than the
cross, because friends that is the ultimate sign of God’s goodness, signifying
what Jesus did for you.
Maybe your Christmas didn’t turn out the
way you planned, or your New Year is not off to a great start, still we hope. We
turn our eyes on the One who Peter called our “Living Hope” (I Peter 1:3). Like
the crocus pushes up through the stoney ground, God will help us to push
through these tough times, because the good news is that this is only a season, and one season gives way to another.
Hold on to the Lord.
Still, when I step outside, I’ll be
scanning the ground just to check if something green is pushing up, because if
it is, a new beginning can’t be far behind.
I’m looking forward to it.
Keep up your hope, friends.