In the Bleak Midwinter
As I looked out on my garden Thursday morning it was a peaceful scene: while birds fed at bird feeders and on the ground, fog hovered in the air, causing leaves to drip…drip…drip with the heavy moisture. All was calm, serene.
Suddenly, the stillness was broken! A black cat with white socks jumped out of the bushes trying to snatch an unsuspecting bird for a morning snack, causing all of them to fly away to safety. Unsuccessful, he sauntered away in the direction of his home. As he left, birds once again landed on the grass and feeders. All was calm, serene.
A few moments later, Socks jumped out of the bushes AGAIN, trying to snatch a bird unaware that he had snuck back into that peaceful place. Again, all the birds went flying for safety, leaving the unsuccessful hunter to saunter away in the direction of his home.
Again, birds landed on the grass and feeders in relative peace. But I realized they were more aware of their enemy’s tactics than I was as I stood in my house. They live their lives in battle mode – always keeping a wary eye out for sneaky cats that try to fool them by “leaving” only to return from another direction.
Sure enough, very soon he was there again, jumping out of the bushes seeking to ensnare someone that wasn’t watching out for him. All that appeared calm and serene wasn’t going to stay that way! Again, all the birds flew away to safety and soon Socks sauntered away in the direction of home in defeat…this time staying there!
Do you ever feel like those birds? I know I do! Thinking all is calm and serene I’m suddenly blindsided by an attack that comes from out of nowhere! I don’t know what yours are, but my recent “attacks” include financial concerns; health issues (my own and two friends in the same day with possible cancer); family health issues (my sister needed a kidney transplant after an autoimmune disease destroyed hers); while at the hospital in Loma Linda, the San Bernardino mass shootings took place only three miles away; and then the hospital received a bomb threat! That was followed by hearing from yet another friend whose heart was deeply wounded by a broken relationship.
One after another – it was just like that black cat with white socks relentlessly jumping out of the bushes trying to ensnare me.
But I was not taken out…my enemy was not successful and these issues did not ensnare me!
Why? Because of a Baby born in a manger 2000 years ago. The One born into our world of despair, disease, drought, death. The One who knew there was no other way to redeem all those whom God loves from this damaged and broken life, which without him is no life at all. With Him even the very things meant to destroy us will work for good, according to His purpose and plan. With Him we have strength to stand firm when faced with such things.
But sometimes I need a reminder that the difficulties I see going on around me will not last forever.
Listen to what awaits those of us who choose to accept His redeeming love into our hearts – our lives:
Isaiah 35 (Joy of the Redeemed)
“The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy…they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.
“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’
“Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, (I especially love that!) and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
“The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
“And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; (nor any black cat with white socks!) they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return.
“They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
All this because that Baby, Son of God and Son of man, grew up to be our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; offering His perfect, sinless life in place of our imperfect lives, to pay the penalty we could not pay on our own; conquering sin; overcoming death…offering us eternal life with Him through His redeeming blood!
“And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore! And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore! Unto us a child is born, the King of kings and Lord of lords! And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore!”*
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming into this world to bring us life. Please help us to stand firm in you no matter what attacks may come our way, and remember that you shall reign forevermore. Amen
*Chris Tomlin, “He Shall Reign Forevermore”