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The rhythms of spring// Hope for those of us in waiting

Winter season has encompassed my soul for far too long. Dark mornings found me each day burying my tattered soul into his holy word fighting to find air and reprieve. Just one gasp to keep me alive. Lungs slowly breathing in, gasping for the fresh air that contains life. In the deep exhale out I beg, plead, and ask for him to grant me more hope than he supplied yesterday. Day by day my soul waits. I cry out for patience- patience to stay the course and not grow weary. A fierce hurricane ravages life and as I sit in the storm. Approaching is the eye of the storm that engulfs everything and the fight begins to find which ways up, down, left and right. This is the pit. The dark lonely season of harsh winter.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

   and he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

   out of the mud and the mire.

He set my feet on solid ground

   and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing,

   a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

   They will put their trust in the Lord. -Psalms 40:1 

His word covers my soul with promises as I wait. I believe my rescue is coming. Spring is around the bend…

Last week, windows rolled down, I slowly drive the windy country roads with air filling the skies of newness. Early morning dew is blanketing the blades of grass and quietly reflecting, spring is coming. The brisk air brazes my senses and brings the news. The news of the change coming. Slowly winter retracts and beautiful life sprouts from darkness. Each bend in the road brings reminders of this fresh season. The rhythms of spring have arrived. In green pastures, fragile life–tiny white lambs frollicking, playful foals roaming the hillside, trees bursting forth with rich new colors, birds singing wondrous melodies, and flowers sprouting up. The anticipation is filled with a sense of childlike wonder and awe. Admiring all the little moments of life I’d taken for granted I stop and soak in the sounds and aromas. When the stagnant air of winter hovers over you for so long the first whiff of spring air overwhelms your heart to a sweet rejoicing.

I’ve waited. I’ve waited. I’ve waited so long for spring.

Just like I see this physically play out in creation, the rotations of seasons play out in my life. Deep within my soul the fresh air fills my lungs and awakened my senses… this air was filled with anticipation….I know my spring is coming.

My rescue can not be far off,  because this is how I know….
Verses 1-3 of psalms 40 have gripped my soul and I’ve been searching and digging more into it. As I was studying this passage I came across John Piper’s commentary where in it he says there are 6 stages of life that come from the pattern of being in pits and getting out. When I saw these stages it made reminded me of God’s unfailing promises.

 6 stages of life

1. The King’s pit (Anything that causes a sense of helplessness and desperation and threatens to ruin life or take it away – that is the king’s pit.)

2. The King’s cry ( One of the reasons God loved David so much was because he cried so much. Psalm 6:6, “I am weary with my mourning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.” )

3. The King’s wait (Patiently waiting for the Lord is a great part of the Christian life. There are at least two essential elements in the way we should wait with the king: humility and hope.)

4. The King’s rescue (God moves us, when He comes, from a sense of desperation to a sense of security…the essence of the rescue is the restoration of that strong feeling of God’s nearness and help.)

5. The King’s song (God can deliver from every sort of pit and mire and will deliver His servants from any plight that would destroy their faith. And when he does we will sing.)

6. The King’s influence (people might see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. )


In my waiting period I have felt stuck in stage #3 where I sometimes forget to look to God’s promise of 4, 5, and 6 -the rescue. Dark winter in the pit isn’t forever.

I dare to hope.

“And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” -psalms 39:7

I know my spring is coming-and when it comes I look forward to my new song he will give. ( I hope he gives me a song my tone-deaf self can handle)   But when the day comes you won’t be able to shut my tone-deaf songs out. sorry 🙂

Those who plant in tears

will harvest with shouts of joy.

They weep as they go to plant their seed,

but they sing as they return with the harvest. -psalms 126:4-5 nlt

 

So those who planted their crops in despair

   will shout hurrahs at the harvest,

So those who went off with heavy hearts

   will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing. -psalms 126:4-5 msg

He has given me a new song to sing,

   a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

   They will put their trust in the Lord. -psalms 40:3


Friends, whatever winter season you sit in, I patiently sit alongside you. Let’s not grow weary in the waiting. Take heart! His promises stand true, winter isn’t forever. The rescue is coming. Our tears will be replaced with a new song. We will sing like we’ve never sung before and “ Many will see what he has done and be amazed.”  What a glorious day this will be. I keep daring to hope. Spring is on it’s way….

Dare to Hope ~ Katie


 

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