Let us walk down the lane!

As I am adjusting to Minnesota’s biting cold, I am reflecting deeply on God’s grace in the quietest times of our lives. Some days, when I peek outside my window, I could barely see anyone braving the chilly cold. But if I could hear something, it was the occasional hum of the cars or the far-off sound of the train. The quietness almost pursues you that nobody is around.

Nature has something to say…

The winter season, with its soft, snowy blanket, invited me to step out and take a brisk walk. To pause, reflect, and listen to the symphony of God’s creation. So, I mustered some courage to bundle up and ventured outside. As I wandered, I noticed how the snow had blanketed the trees, the ground, the lake, and the building. Transforming the landscape into something peaceful and pure. The swooshing wind and the crunch of my boots created an almost pleasing rhythm.

Although the overcast skies seemed to dull the mood, there was unique beauty in the clouds making faces. Even the snowflakes drizzling down the sky had a different charm, with their unique and delicate designs that hint towards God’s intelligence. But what intrigued me the most was the glow of the snow, which seemed as if for miles, diamonds were scattered around the earth. The whiteness of the snow was so delightful that it captivated me just long enough that a verse leaped into my mind—Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”    

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,    

they shall be as white as snow;”

Wash me…make me all new

In that moment, the image of snow became more than just a beautiful winter scene—it symbolized God’s transforming grace, offering purity and renewal even in life’s coldest days. I reflected on the bleakness of my sins in contrast to the whiteness of the snow—rinsed and cleansed with Christ’s holy and righteous blood. With that, I experienced both the unfeigned joy of cleanliness and the excruciating sorrow of the crucified Jesus. I thanked God for His unfathomable goodness and invincible love.

As I looked around, I marveled at how creatures are divinely equipped to endure such harsh winters. Some migrate, others seek shelter in trees with bigger foliage, huddle together, or hibernate, all guided by God’s design. Even the trees, leafless and scanty, standing tall—waiting for the promise of spring to bloom and grow.

In winter, humans suffer from seasonal depression, insomnia, or different deficiencies, even with all resources available, and the rest of God’s creation simply obeys Him and adapts to what He provides. It made me question– if nature can faithfully endure the toughest times, why do I, as God’s image-bearer sometimes overlook His love and provision? Though we can learn obedience from nature, our faith should not be contingent upon it but rather on who God is. As addressed well in Habakkuk 3:17-18

“Though the fig tree does not bud    

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen    

and no cattle in the stalls, 

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Rejoice in the Great I Am

Habakkuk struggled to understand why God allowed injustice and suffering in Judah through a wicked nation. Yet he declared a remarkable faith by rejoicing in God’s goodness and salvation. He knew even in the barren times of his life, he hoped in the Great I AM. I believe how spring blooms new life in us; winter helps us to leap into our Father’s bosom. So, I encourage us to step out, observe creation, and rejoice in the Lord even when everything inside and around us is dry and fruitless. God has filled this world, with His endless designs and witnesses for us to experience and glorify Him. All we need is to walk down the lane.