Seasons do Change

A Rose Revisited

The rose I wrote about in A Picture of Perseverance never ceases to amaze me. If you recall, the stunning rose stood by itself last year in all its beauty.

The picture in the middle is what the rose looked like earlier this year. Yes, the rose survived the winter, but it had lost all its leaves. It looked completely dead and devoid of any future. It was sad to see it so bare, but we all know what happens after a rough winter…

Spring comes and new life begins! The photo on the right is of the rose just last Wednesday. Look at all those leaves that have already grown back!

Isn’t that how our life seems sometimes?

There are times when we think that’s it. It’s over. There’s NO WAY we can survive whatever it is we’re going through. All we can see is loss all around us. But after much trials, tears, tests, etc…we wake up one day and realize we’re still standing. The future may look bleak ….

But God! He promises to give us a crown of beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61:3)

Even after the coldest, darkest, loneliest winters, He can bring hope and love and joy and peace.

What is that rose doing today? Still shining. Still fighting. And still having the audacity to bring forth life!

Friend, if you are tempted to give up those hopes, dreams, plans or visions that God has given you, don’t you dare quit!  God works in seasons. Be like that rose that just keeps on blooming no matter what!

God will bring you through with a new song in your heart and a praise in your mouth!

He will restore the years the locusts have eaten. (Joel 2:25) He will turn your tears into dancing!  (Ecclesiastes 3:4 and Psalm 30:11) That’s His Word to us believers.

It may not happen overnight, but it will happen. Before you know it, you’ll see new life springing up in your situation as well! Go ahead, start thanking God even now!

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.”

(Isaiah 61:1-3)

I pray this encouraged you!  Feel free to leave a comment below.