Reversing What Seems Irreversible

It seemed just yesterday that my world was full of the panorama of fall colors, but now my world was covered in white. The white of the first winter snow. As I walked through the woods, the trail beneath my feet no longer was soft dirt…now it was wet, crunchy snow. I could see my breath in the air. 

It was a sudden transformation, as nature seemingly had reversed itself. As I walked the familiar path – that now looked unfamiliar – it was hard to imagine that a few short weeks before I was surrounded by green grass, colorful flowers, and the hum of insects. Where had it all gone? 

Watching this process – the reverse of what seems irreversible – is quite amazing to me. 

As a native of southern California, I never had experienced the reversal of seasons until we moved to Illinois and we experienced our first, real, cold and snow-laden winter. And then, of course, winter was transformed and replaced. 

So the white of snow was transformed into the bright colors of spring. Winter boots were replaced by sandals. The winter stillness in the woods was replaced by crickets and cicadas and lightning bugs. 

My world changed completely. 

Even though I’ve now seen a number of snowy days and winters, it is still surprising to watch. The changing of the seasons never ceases to amaze me, as I watch God reverse what always seems to me to be irreversible. 

Here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, we don’t get much snow. Yet winter brings cold days, and trees without leaves, and longer periods of darkness. 

Even though I know this can change…even though I know this will change…in the midst of winter I begin to feel like the trees always will be bare and the sky always will be dark. 

As I ponder the way God changes seasons – as He dramatically reverses what seems irreversible – I see a wonderful metaphor for our spiritual journeys. 

Today is January 2nd of a new year. During 2019, we may have experienced some “winter seasons”: moments filled with deep burdens, losses, or disappointments. We may have struggled in our work or relationships. And yet – just as God reverses the seasons – we can watch with anticipation as he brings about new seasons in our lives. He can take what is seemingly dead and cold and colorless and barren, and replace it with things that are new and fresh and vibrant and bursting with color.

God tells us that he in in the process of creating everything new, because his goal is to heal everything in creation and humanity that is broken. This process may take a while, but it is happening in us and through us and all around us. Watching seasonal changes can help us visualize the ways God uses his power to reverse what seems irreversible in our lives and in our world.

So the next time you feel like you’re knee deep in snow, surrounded by bare branches and a gray sky, confused as to your direction, feeling the silence as if God will never speak…remember that God reverses the irreversible. 

In our world, in our lives, in our hearts. 

Let me pray for you. Our gracious God, thank you for coming to live among us so that our broken lives of sin could be transformed into joyful and abundant life. I pray that those reading this blog will take heart as they begin a new year. Just as you will bring new life from the world of nature in the months to come, you can bring them new life and dreams through your great power and love. Help them to look for the ways you are at work, to see where new life might spring. In the name of a loving Father, a sacrificing Son, and an indwelling Holy Spirit. Amen.