The Beauty of Changing Seasons
When the grass starts to turn a little more green, and the trees grow back their leaves, something inside of me leaps for joy. The changing of seasons, specifically the changing of winter to spring is one of the best pictures of God’s purposeful design that I can see. He is always drawing us to himself in more ways than one. I love that one of those ways he draws us to himself is through nature.
Every spring I feel Him awakening my soul again. Winter takes a toll on my bones! The winter chill and bareness of it all makes me long to feel warmth and to see color again. I love how God lets us watch this change unfold with our own eyes, and to actually feel it on our skin. When I see flowers blooming around me, I’m reminded that he is in the business of making all things new. The warmth of the spring sun penetrates every cell of my body, and is a sweet reminder that he loves and cares for me so deeply. And when the silence of winter is met with the sweet sound of birds chirping again I’m reminded that all creation sings his praises.
All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name
Psalm 66:4
A Challenge
Isn’t that the most beautiful thought? All creation sings his praise and knows him as their creator. The birds, the mountains, the sunset, the ocean…everything bows down to God. To see for yourself, I challenge you to go on a nature walk this week and repeat this verse over and over as you walk. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name. Psalm 66:4.
As you walk, look around and notice how nature displays God’s glory! What qualities of God do you see revealed in nature? The Bible says he reveals some of himself to us through nature. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:20).
We can catch a glimpse of his eternal power and the vastness of who God is in nature. But how often do we take intentional time to really soak this in?! Whenever I step foot on the beach it hits me, the vastness of the ocean. I start to feel so small, and i’m reminded of how vast God is too. However, you don’t have to go to the beach to experience this. Literally, all we have to do is go walk outside right now (wherever you are) and look around. As you look around, think about the fact that all of the earth bows down to him. And the earth actually sings his praises! What?! I love that picture of the earth singing praises to God!
He Is Near
I hope spring breathes hope and life into your heart and soul where you need it most! I want to leave you with this song that I have loved since I was a little girl (it is old, but the words get me every time). It talks about how God is in every season, and I love picturing him in nature. I hope you enjoy it!
Song: "Every Season" by Nicole Nordeman.
And everything that's new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
And what was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You and how You make me new
With every season's change
And so it will be as You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring
If you have had a particularly harsh winter, then this is the best news ever. “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” ( Isaiah 43:19). Not only is God making the earth new again in spring, but he is always moving in our lives too. Can you see him working in your life? If he feels far, be encouraged: He is near.
*Maybe this is a new thought or experience for you, to look for God as you walk in nature. While I personally have experienced God primarily revealing himself to me when I read the bible and pray, I do see God wowing me with his creation often. I love this verse: “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” Jeremiah 29:13. He says if we look for him, he will meet us where we are. He is so personal and he is waiting, we simply have to come.
I love to talk about this, so if you want to chat more feel free to contact me!