Blossoms In Winter
April 2023 |
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:7
THE ARRIVAL OF STRESS
One day I received a text from my youngest daughter. She was just a few months away from delivering her third child, and a series of negative events had rushed into her life, causing her great distress. The problems included health issues surrounding the pregnancy, financial issues regarding her husband’s work and income, and policy issues that could force her to have the baby in a location that she wasn’t totally comfortable with. As well, she was responsible for preparing food for a Bible study that she and her husband were hosting, all the while trying to keep up with her two boys, both under the age of three. Can you say, “Stress?”
Feeling distressed and overwhelmed, she did what every daughter should be able to do—she texted her dad (that’s me) and requested prayer.
After receiving her text, what I really wanted to do was put on my superman cape, fly across the several states that separate us, and be her superhero. I wanted to fix every single problem that she was facing. I wanted to lift her burdens, supply her financial need, see to the care and healing of her body, make sure that she was able to have the baby where she wanted to have it, and then give her a hug and kiss before I flew up, up, and away back home.
But since I’m not a superhero, I couldn’t do any of those things. What I could do is what I’ve always done for all my children—I could pray!
AN AVAILABLE RESOURCE
Since neither one of us was available for a phone call until sometime the next day, I began to think about what I might say that would be of any help. I know what it’s like to be overwhelmed and distressed in this wonderful opportunity that we call life.
I recalled a time in my own life when I suffered from A-Fib and A-Flutter—a condition of the heart. It began as an occasional instance, but by the time it concluded some seventeen months later, it had grown into a constant ordeal.
It had been my practice to walk and pray in the morning. But during that time, any movement would cause the heart to begin racing to the tune of 140 to 160 beats per minute. The doctors were unable to bring it under control with medicine. Making good choices for health and diet didn’t change the issue. So, having come to the end of options that were available, I had to learn how to deal with the constant pressure of A-Fib and A-Flutter.
THE LESSON
It was during this seventeen-month time span that I learned more fully a truth that I had preached for years—that on the inside of every believer, the Holy Spirit lies ready to rise up, comfort, and bring peace to those who will express faith in Christ.
Each morning, instead of walking, I would sit in a chair on my porch. I would begin to praise and worship the Lord until the source from within, the Holy Spirit, would rise up into my being and bring the comforting peace that was so desperately needed. Then, and only then, would I be ready to face the day. I learned to count on this resource, the indwelling Holy Spirit, to make it through each day. I am confident that God allowed this situation into my life to teach me that He was capable of bringing comfort to my heart and mind in a time of stress. I learned that lesson, and now stressful situations, fear, and bad news don’t always get to be “king of my life” as they once were.
By turning my attention to the God who saved me and loves me, I know I can find peace in the midst of any storm. My heart dilemma ended with an ablation—a heart operation that proved tremendously successful. I haven’t had any issues with my heart since. I don’t need medicine. There are no more trips to the doctor. And I have a practicing knowledge of how to allow the Holy Spirit to bring me peace to eliminate stress.
THE NEXT DAY
The day after getting the news of my daughter’s dilemma, I awoke and headed outside to pray. The very first thing that popped into my head were her needs and issues.
That morning it was dark, and it was winter. Of course, winter in Louisiana is not harsh like winter in other areas of the country. But early winter mornings are generally marked by dark and cold. As I made my way down my usual route, I happened to look up and see foliage alongside many of the area homes. In the dark and in the winter and in the cold, I looked in amazement at several bushes that had started to blossom. Imagine that, right in the midst of winter, in the midst of dark, in the midst of cold, something on the inside of these plants rose up and came to life. They brought forth a beautiful blossom of color that interrupted the cold, the dismal, and the dark.
When I arrived back home, I saw that some of these bushes were blooming at the side of my own home. At just the right time, something activated on the inside of these plants and brought forth beautiful blossoms despite the dark, the cold, and the dismal.
I knew then what I could share with my daughter. While I couldn’t be her superhero and fly to her rescue, I could remind her that there was true life on the inside of her. Life that was always ready and willing to rise up and provide her with peace in the midst of the cold, in the midst of the dark, in the midst of the dismal.
What my daughter needed wasn’t a superhero but blossoms in winter. These are made available to her as she expresses her faith in Christ. What He has done for us on Calvary supplies every believer with this new source of life.
May the Lord provide each of you with blossoms in winter.
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