Snow
It’s definitely winter here in Indiana. Our landscape has been covered in about 10-12 inches of snow over the last 48 hours. This morning I spent some time simply looking out the window at this beautiful mystery.
In our society today snow is often viewed with contempt for the delays, traffic, accidents, etc… that it brings, and for sure if it comes at just the right time it can certainly be a rather large inconvenience. Still I have to wonder if we often look at snow backwards. See the reason snow causes so many problems for us is that it interferes with our schedule and plans. We live in time where everything is overly scheduled and rigid and has to be done yesterday that if anything even slightly changes we are completely messed up.
I think snow, like many other things in this world that only God can control, is meant to teach and grow us. It is meant to remind us that in all reality we are not even close to being in control. That we can plan all we want but ultimately God will rule and reign over us in His great sovereignty. He will act in whatever is way is for His glory and our best.
Secondly I think snow sometimes is God’s way of making us slow down, be still, and take a breath. It is kind of like an impromptu sabbath. We are forced to sit back and simply be in the presence of family, friends, or maybe even just God himself. It is a time to take advantage of crashed schedule and read, play games, watch movies, sip hot chocolate, build snowmen, go sledding, or simply relax with loved ones. Kids get this. Even the most studious of children love snow days. They recognize that it is a free day, a gimme, a day when they can simply let go of their concerns and responsibilities and just rest.
This I think snow is an awesome and gorgeous reminded of our redemption. The bible says it like this:
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
See God uses snow as a beautiful visual reminder of the state of our redeemed heart and life. Before our salvation we were covered in sin, draped in scarlet. Then Christ came and rescued us from our sinful nature, made us into new creatures. He washed us clean, as clean as snowy white.
So my hope today is that sometime soon you get snowed in for a day or two so you have the opportunity to be reminded and thankful for the Creator’s sovereignty, love, and grace.
–Wholly Surrender!