Winter Storm Stella visited us yesterday, and left a parting gift of a thick blanket of snow as one final hoorah for the winter that almost wasn't. The mild temps and little snow gave us hope for Spring's arrival, which was further fueled by the unseasonable warm weather through much of February. Certainly March would be just as nice, if not nicer, right?
Of course not. This is New England. I've lived here long enough to know not to expect much, as Mark Twain once noted, “If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.” That is still every bit as much true today as it has ever been.
This gets me thinking about our daily lives, though. Our emotions are just as fickle as the New England Weather. One minute, we are full of joy and hope; the next, we are sad, frustrated, hopeless, worried, etc. In the depths of despair and discouragement, it's very easy to forget what happiness and peace feel like, just as in the aftermath of a blizzard, it's easy to forget that Spring is still on its way, and that before you know it, we will be complaining about the heat and the humidity.
Just as the weather outside the window at this moment doesn't mean that the sun is any less powerful than it is during the dog days of summer, so it is with God, who "never changes or casts a shifting shadow." (James 1:17) Even on the most bitter cold of nights, when temps plunge into the negative double digits, and the wind makes it feel even colder, we can have faith that the sun hasn't lost any power at all.
This is what it means to walk by faith, and not by sight. If we depended entirely upon what we could physically perceive at any given moment, we would all have anxiety attacks every time the sun set and gave way to the darkness of night. Yet, we sleep in peace with the confident expectation that the sun will rise again tomorrow, just as it always has.
Let's seek to have that same peace with God, and remember that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) Even if our feelings or our circumstances feel like all hell has literally broken loose in our lives, we can rest in our faith that the Son hasn't lost any power at all.
What were you anxious about a year ago? Six months ago? A week ago? That burden that feels so very heavy at this moment is just momentary.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, if you don't like the emotional chaos of your heart and mind, just wait a few minutes.
Better yet: "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (1 Peter 5:7)
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Come and join us Thursday mornings at 7:30 AM at Dunkin Donuts for coffee, conversation, and companionship. You will be blessed!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Joe
