I greatly enjoy the beauty of the snow. We’ve received several inches in the last few days, which I have been excited about. Some of my friends and family have good naturedly rolled their eyes and shaken their heads at my exclamations about glitter snow. I must confess I really don’t enjoy driving in it. And I thoroughly agree that it can cause unsafe conditions, accidents, and a slow down of work. But all the same, I like the snow and I will share some of the reasons behind that with you today.
One huge reason I enjoy snow is that snow covers up the mud and ruts; the dead, crushed grass; and all the dull, drab colors that are so prevalent in the winter months. It smooths out the roughness of the ground, covers the scars where bushes have been torn out and cast aside to make space for bare earth. Everything is covered with a sparkling, pure white coat. As I walk through the snow and look around, I think of Isaiah 61:10. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness. . .” It does not matter how messed up my life is, the scars I have, or the choices I’ve made: there is forgiveness and cleansing freely available. Another verse in Isaiah says, “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Is. 64:6). Sin brings such ugliness to life, be it our own sin, or the sin of others. But God has offered forgiveness, cleansing, purifying, and a new life, life abundant, eternal life to all who will give up on their own ways, their own thoughts, their own attempts at being righteous or “good enough”; and will by faith accept God’s judgment that they are not good, and also accept Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as the only and complete payment for their sins. When one does this, God “clothes them with the garments of salvation, the robe of righteousness.” Instead of the ugliness, the failure, the sin, God sees us as holy and pure, with Jesus’ righteousness on our account. Just as snow does not remove the ruts and torn ground beneath it, so believing in Christ does not magically remove the results of our past. But it does remove the shame and give us a new life. And God has promised that His grace will supply all we need. We don’t need to deal with the pain, grief, and\or guilt of our past alone. God is there to speak truth and love to us and show us the way through. So when I see snow, especially deep snow, I think of the new life and the forgiveness I have received, and the new life and forgiveness available to every person. That is a source of immense joy!
Another reason I like the snow is that it reminds me of God’s faithfulness. He has promised that as long as the earth remains, “seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22). Sure, it might be snowing in February or March, or maybe even April in some cases. But that does not mean that summer is not coming. God has not changed His promise. And so while we might be freezing, and the snow may be inconvenient, we can use it as a reminder that we can rest in God’s faithfulness. He will never change.
One other reason I enjoy the snow is that I enjoy looking at the flakes. If it’s the right kind of snow, I can catch the tiny flakes on something dark and admire their intricate, delicate designs. The mighty God who created the whole world, the God who dwells in heaven, chose to craft each snowflake uniquely. And you and I are of much more worth than a snowflake. God has created each of us uniquely, and He has a plan for each of us. He loves every person individually, and desires to have a relationship with each one. We are not some ‘mass of humanity’ that God figures He needs to feed, and make sure they’re all okay. No, He says He knows our needs before we ask. He clothes the grass and flowers, feeds the birds, and cares for us even more. As I see each little flake, I am reminded that, while sometimes it can be hard being ‘different’ than others, God created me exactly how I am, and He has a plan for me.
No, I’m not denying that snow often makes it difficult for people to travel and do their jobs, or that the cold can cause people a lot of pain. I’m not saying that people who dislike snow don’t have a valid point. But I am saying that when I see snow, I am filled with joy, not just because it’s so beautiful, but because it reminds me of God’s love. And I hope that you, my friend, will be able to find a bit of joy when you see the snow. May it call you to a personal relationship with God that you might know more fully His love for you. May it remind you of His faithfulness, that you can rest in His care. May it help you see that you are unique and loved, and that God has a wonderful plan for you.
Hope in truth 