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Spring is here. After the cold and darkness of winter, we all rejoice as the earth awakens with new life. I love spring. The tulips begin to creep up from the ground, the grass begins to green and the trees bud. Spring rain reminds us that new life is ready to come forth. When I owned a landscaping business, I always looked forward to the new life of spring. How satisfying to see the results of your labor with colorful flowers, the crisp stripes of green grass and the smell of spring rains. We planted petunias, marigolds, tulips and other colorful flowers that express new life and hope of spring.
Perhaps winter or the last year has been filled with anxiety, pain, loss, or suffering or your own choices weigh on you. I have good news! Spring with new life has bloomed. God is ready to make the broken places of your life alive again. Interestingly, scripture uses the metaphor of spring and spring rains often.
God's presence
refreshes us
The prophet declared "Let us acknowledge the LORD...As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." (Hosea 6:3, NIV). Another translation says, "in just a short time he will restore us, so that we may live in his presence. Oh, that we might know the Lord. Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." (Hosea 6:2-3, NLT)
Knowing God and living in His presence refreshes us when life hurts and everything around us seems dead. Just like the sun rises and sets, eventually, even after drought, the rains will come. God can fill our empty lives with the refreshing rain of His life-giving presence and peace.
God's promises are fresh and comforting
Raising children made us realize we all need reminders. God reminded the Hebrew nation repeatedly, during adversity, that God's Word, promises and presence are as fresh as the spring rain. Did you ever walk out on a cool spring morning and see the rain on the grass or garden? My dad loved to garden and often after a soaking rain things came to life. It is a refreshing feeling. Is your life soiled and messy? May the spring rains of God's presence and promises help you.
Scripture declares, "heavens, listen to me. Then I will speak. Earth, hear the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain. Let my words come down like dew. Let them be like raindrops on new grass. Let them be like rain on tender plants. I will make known the name of the Lord. Praise God! How great He is! (Dt. 32 :1-3 NIRV).
God's provisions of new life revives us
"Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to save you." (Isaiah 35:1-4, NLT).
My mom had crocuses and tulips along the small sidewalk in front of our house when I was young. Gone was the snow, salt and mess of winter. You knew it was spring when you saw them bloom.
God promises strength and renewal for our weakness and weariness. One translation describes this as "bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color" (Message translation). God wants to create beauty from the chaotic ashes of life.
God's provision and presence provide hope in suffering
"Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen." (James 5:7 NLT).
"Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring. (Joel 2:23 NLT).
It is difficult to be patient in suffering. However, if we can remind ourselves of God's past faithfulness and promises, we can have hope in the tough times. During my last cancer treatments (39 of them!), some days were long, tiring and frustrating. I had to focus on the end result: the health I enjoy today. And, during that time God gave me promises for each day.
God's resurrection
power brings the hope of new life from the dead
Isaiah 44 declares, "for I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. (Isaiah 44:3-4). If you have walked along a creek bed you may have noticed the strength and vibrancy of the trees by the water. God's power, presence and new life brings strength to our lives.
In the Christian faith, just as spring brings new life to nature, from the very darkness of the grave, new life and hope arises. As we of Christian faith move from Lent to Easter may we be reminded of the God who promises His presence, provides His resurrection power to produce new life and provides new hope even among life's challenges. The Apostle declares "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of His mercy He gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ's resurrection from death." (1 Peter 1:3, ERV).
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Dan Hamilton is chaplain at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital.