Encouragement

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Today, I heard Darlene Bishop’s son explain how his mother taught him about the necessity of going through “dark” times. I can’t quote him word for word, but it went something like this: “Life is like a painting. There must be darker areas for the whole picture to come out just right.”

At that point, I envisioned a clear blue sky. Ironically, I read, again today, “Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.” Though they are always there, even in the daytime, we don’t see silver stars on a background of blue. Yet, in the nighttime, on a blanket of cold black, the brilliance of silver stands out and glimmers so beautifully.

Last night, I heard a man singing a song for which I do not remember the words. But the theme was that we cannot possibly know how great God’s mercies truly are unless we have been in severe need of them, how truly strong we can be until we’ve had to admit to our weaknesses, how beautiful the colors of His grace until we’ve been in a place where we’ve been totally blind to it. Keeping with the irony, I heard another man singing today about not wanting to be famous, but wanting to be a star.

I see life like ships on the open sea. It would be so nice if we were always rocked by gentle waves. But how, then, would we ever come to know Him as The Calmer of Storms? And these vessels wouldn’t need to be any more than just plastic rafts. But we, made in His image, are crafted so much better than that, each unique and wonderfully made.

If today, the backdrop for the extraordinary painting that is you is being covered in deep, dark colors, rejoice! Rejoice because gold and silver will soon adorn you with such brilliance and beauty. You are a fabulous work of God-art, set apart for His pleasure. Gold and silver must be tried in fire to shine in the most pure state of brilliance. Hope is truly, truly born of suffering.

Let us think in terms of seasons:

Spring has always been one of my favorites. All around are the signs of new life. A multitude of bright colors splash over the landscape. The area in which I live is extraordinarily beautiful with violet and red acres of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes. Everywhere we turn, babies are being born, most colorful things are springing up from the black soil of the flatlands, and trees and plants are bearing much fruit.

Summer, here in north Texas, is every imaginable shade of green, neatly covering most of the same black soil. I sometimes wonder if green is God’s favorite color. After all, He is constantly watching over us and He painted the place where He would have His eyes set most such a serene color. Though sometimes a little too hot for comfort, I think of warmth and serenity when I think of summer.

And then, there is autumn with its gentle breezes and the rains of falling leaves. All the world is rich in gold, ecstatic in sunny yellow and smiling-bright orange, and mercy shouts a joyful song in deep scarlet. All the colors of fall blend together in gorgeous, jeweled blankets on the ground. Earlier this week, I spent a couple of days visiting the beautiful hills of southeastern Oklahoma. They are situated amidst a national forest. I cannot begin to describe to you the rolling array of colors that are autumn there.

But winter... It is so easy to concentrate on the chill and bouts of cabin fever. We long for spring and chances to start again, or to start all over completely. Or we spend our precious time longing to capture the most treasured moments of the year passed, not ready to move forward or just stay still, letting yesterday fall behind. But if we stop for a brief second and consider the greater plan, we can find reason to celebrate the chill itself. I won’t even begin to paint you a picture of crystals and purity. I think you can see the blankets of ice and/or snow. What I want us to think about, rather, is how the soil is being prepared for spring and the abundant life that comes with it.

Today, you may be feeling the chill. It may be dark and cold where you are. Celebrate the moment! Celebrate the chill! Celebrate the day; for this day is the Lord’s will for you! This is your season for preparation. You are being prepared to bear good fruit, lasting fruit, abundant, healthy fruit. Know that the seasons change. Just hold on, because your world will soon be painted in the brilliant colors of spring on a backdrop that makes them stand out gloriously.
© Joyce Pool

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