Third Week of Advent: Winter Joy

“How am I ever going to do that?” I asked myself in the fall when we started our 6 am Winnipeg Free Press paper route. I was thinking about the future – the dark, cold, windy winter mornings ahead – and wondering how I would be able to handle the paper route then. Since I am a person who loves warmth, sleep, and daylight, I just couldn't imagine it.

So this last Saturday morning when the thermometer read -30º C and I was joyfully trudging along on the route, I remembered that question and asked myself another one, “How am I doing this?” Three things came to mind:

By God's grace: When I go to bed at night I usual think I won't be eager to get up in the morning but when I'm awaken by my alarm, I get out of bed quite easily for me. It never ceases to surprise me since I was not a morning person. How do I explain this? It is a gracious gift of God. Nothing I deserve. It is a specific, practical way that God is blessing me in this season of my life.

By God's provision: When I open our door to face the frosty elements, I am covered up from head to toe. My jacket, boots, toque, mittens, and even my Dollarama neck warmer are all God's provision to me. I am excited to be growing in my gratitude to God for things that we need and use everyday. Often I am tempted to take them for granted so winter has given me opportunity to acknowledge my needs and therefore God's provision.

By faith: As I ask God for His grace and thank Him for His provision, as I make my plans and preparation for the day, and as I literally take one step after another, I am walking by faith. These mornings have turned into great times to worship and pray. The thing that I couldn't imagine enduring has turned out to be a blessing.

Yesterday was the day we got to light the pink candle on our Advent wreaths – the candle of joy! The OT reading was Isaiah 35:1-10 and it describes the flourishing of a desert. What joy and relief when the dry (apparently) dead ground begins to show signs of life! Verses 1-2a:

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,

the desert shall rejoice and blossom,

like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,

and rejoice with joy and singing.”

 

The sermon I heard yesterday invited us to pray about the deserts in our lives or the lives of those we love and ask God to bring a garden. The result will be joy. I believe that my experience with the bleak winter morning demonstrates some of the ways God brings life to what appears dead. As we walk by faith receiving His grace and provision, wonderful things bloom. Who would have ever expected me to be joyful walking around in a dark deep freeze before 7 am? With God, all things are possible!

In Christ,

Tracy