I peeked through my office window and saw the tiny pink buds hesitantly starting to bloom. The bright color contrasted the brown landscape across my front yard. A smile crossed my face as I grabbed the camera to capture the hopeful yet minor signs of spring in early March. My heart rejoiced with the promise of cheerful colors and singing birds after a gloomy winter.

Spring is my favorite time of the year. I love the fall, with its magnificent, colorful forests and crisp cool air after the scorching summer months, but something about spring makes my heart sing for joy. After a long, dreadful winter, when nature dies and rests in complacent abandon, the first blooms remind me that there’s an end for every sorrow, just as there’s hope in every trial.

After a long, dreadful winter, when nature dies and rests in complacent abandon, the first blooms remind me that there’s an end for every sorrow, just as there’s hope in every trial.
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I find it necessary to create visual reminders of God’s grace in our lives, and nature is truly full of them. Meditating upon certain metaphors inspired by the seasons can become a way to anchor our hearts in truths often shadowed by our troubles.

Depression is sometimes referred to as the “winter of the soul,” and rightfully so. As we go through the terrible “winters” of sorrow brought about by the death of a loved one, unemployment, loneliness or lingering sickness, it is difficult to focus beyond our circumstances. Therefore, deep sadness, or even depression, can easily set in.

The end of winter, followed by the blooming of dogwood trees and flowers in early spring, has become an anchoring reminder to keep my focus in check each time I go through a shadowy valley. “No pain lasts forever,” the blooms remind me. Indeed, spring reminds me that just as nature is not dead during winter, God is also at work in the “winters of the soul,” preparing, caring for us, birthing new joys when we think that all hope is gone.

Spring reminds me that just as nature is not dead during winter, God is also at work in the “winters of the soul,” preparing, caring for us, birthing new joys when we think that all hope is gone.
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I can’t compare other people’s sufferings with mine, but I’ve certainly had my share of troubles. I’ve gone through many health problems, including cancer. We lost a loved one in a tragic accident. I experienced deep emptiness and loneliness following my separation from family and friends when I moved to America over two decades ago. We lost a lot of money in a business venture and faced unemployment twice in the years we’ve been married.

Life has certainly not always been a bed of roses without thorns. But as I look past each trouble I’ve faced, this fact stands out, more significant than anything I’ve ever endured: “Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” This truth, extracted from one of King David’s psalms, has been repeatedly tested and proven in my life. God has always provided me with the grace needed to pass each test — if only I would choose to look up to him instead of fixing my eyes on my difficult, however fleeting circumstances.

"Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5
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As I watch the tree in my front yard blooming this early spring, I am again reminded of God’s faithfulness through the difficult seasons of my life. I am reminded that every winter of the soul has a purpose and that it also has an end.

It is through suffering that our character becomes stronger, and it is through watching God’s enduring presence in the most challenging days that our faith has the opportunity to grow.

Above all, the end of a long winter reminds me to trust that the sorrows of each long trial are but a shadow compared to the beauty and strength that God will bring forth in our character as we anchor our hearts in His promises and as we trust that spring will certainly come, even in our darkest and coldest days.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on March 25, 2022. Click HERE to find it on the AJC’s website.

Subscribe to Patricia’s new podcast God-Sized Stories and leave a review! New

A new episode is live! Interview with Alex and Stephen Kendrick (producers of War Room, Fireproof, Courageous) about their first documentary – “Show me the Father.” Click on the image to listen on your preferred podcast platform.

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LINK UP is open! This week, my annual reflection on the changes of the seasons may serve as an encouragement to someone going through a difficult trial. Join us & share your blog!
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The post Spring Reminds Us There’s an End for Every Trial {Recharge Wednesday Linkup} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Happy Wednesday!

Today, our linkup features the winner of this month’s Guest Contributor contest, Lorraine Reep. Lorraine’s blog is a beautiful place of encouragement for so many of us, and it is a true blessing to feature her on our website! You will love this post about surrendering our fears and doubts to our loving Father.

Thank you all, for Recharging with us!

In His wonderful Love,

Patricia

I tend to view every glass half full and look for the bright side of most situations. If I can’t find a bright side, I will take a steel wool pad to it and try to scrub enough gunk off to find a shiny spot. I’m more prone to working it out than clutching my pearls.

Recently I’ve had my pearls in a death grip.

A situation popped up and in a matter of minutes we were reeling in shock and moving toward terror. It was the sort of thing that comes out of nowhere.

Life demands that we keep putting one foot in front of the other, and we have, but I am keenly aware that I have a death grip on those pearls. One hand reaching toward God and the other firmly attached to my fear.

Where do we find courage to move forward when the ground is shaking under our feet and the future is uncertain and in the hands of strangers?

For weeks, I have feared the worst and trembled at the thought of the potential damage. I’ve yelled at God and asked him how dare He allow it. And in case you’re wondering, He’s okay with that. He can handle my anger, frustration and grief. If you aren’t convinced, check out David’s rant:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13: 1-2 ESV

He listened, I’m sure of it, but I wasn’t hearing much from Him. Crickets. There were accusations from a dark place: “He’s forgotten you and your loves. He’s turned away – you are on your own and this is hopeless. This will not end well. You’d better start working on Plan B.”

When you walk with Jesus, there is no Plan B. Faith is like that. It’s either all in or all out. You can’t just sprinkle a little faith over a situation. @lreep
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I have a great analogy that involves a litter box and a sick cat, but let’s just go with we either allow Him to replace our unbelief with absolute faith in Him or we wallow around in doubt while clinging to a skinny thread of faith. The latter stinks.

Around the same time, I began studying David’s life. One of my favorite stories is of David defeating Goliath, that giant who terrified and taunted the Israelite army. David, a mere boy, saw past the Philistine’s threats and insults against the power and promise of God. David didn’t have confidence in his abilities or in the armor his brothers tried to drape over his slight frame.

David’s confidence was in God and he put every bit of his trust in Him.

The massive Goliath taunted and threatened the young boy, but David stepped forward in confidence that God had prepared him for this. Those long nights protecting and defending the sheep were his classroom and he was ready for what could be his final exam.

David was fearless because he remembered God’s faithfulness.

I loosened the grip on my pearls. Really, God? You’ve got this? Because from here it doesn’t seem like You do and I’m terrified.

It’s okay, baby girl. I know you are afraid. When you gaze at the world that wants to destroy you or the ones you love, you will always be afraid. Look at My face. I’m right here.

Fear always has its roots in unbelief.

Only God, when we remember His faithfulness, can make us brave. And until we are brave, we can’t hold space for hope for others. We choose to believe Him.

I don’t know how this will work out, but I know this much for sure. God sees my family. He sees every one of us, from the oldest to the youngest. He is alive and pressing into this situation even when it feels like He’s looked away. He has not turned his head; He is right in the middle of all of it.

Let go of those pearls, He says. I’m going to show you a better way than steel wool and pearl clutching.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord; be strong,
and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14 ESV

Wait for the Lord; then you will have courage and hold space for hope, for yourself and for the battle-weary all around you. @lreep
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His promises are true, friends, even when all we can see is a loud-mouth giant; when the noise of his threats and taunts wants to discourage and defeat.

Wait for the Lord.

Lorraine lives in the growing yet quaint town of Winter Garden, Florida. She and her husband are celebrating forty-six years of marriage this summer.  She’s mom to two daughters and nine children call her Grandma. When she’s not working at her technical job in the banking software industry she loves spending time with friends, watching the sun set from her golf cart and writing grace stories. She and her husband serve in the local church, mentoring young couples and ministering to senior adults. Lorraine would love to connect with you on her blog: Gracengraffiti.com and her Grace and Graffiti community on Facebook.

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Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

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LINKUP PARTY is open! Today, our guest @lreep shares a challenging post about trusting God when life turns upside down all of a sudden. JOIN US and share your blog with our audience!
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The post Clutching My Pearls {Guest Post for Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Some of my fondest memories from childhood were made in Caputera – a small, backwards fisherman’s village in South Brazil, where I spent every Summer vacation as a child. When my great-grandparents immigrated to Brazil from Spain in the 1800’s, they founded the village together with other families. My grandparents inherited the land where they built a small ranch as their summer retreat.

Even thought the world was changing everywhere else in the late 70’s, time seemed to stand still in Caputera.

It was my little paradise. A place where this city girl could run carefree all summer. A place filled with fresh food, pure fun and easy laughter.

My childhood’s happy place.

I loved daytime in Caputera – we would run wildly all day, playing in the saltwater lake and harvesting peanuts and grapes as snacks. But nighttime was my favorite.

You see, the village didn’t have electricity until the late 70’s, therefore we didn’t have TV programs to watch or board games to play. Instead, we would sit by the fire, listening to my great aunt tell ghost stories, or, my favorite – grandpa would turn out the kerosene lamps so we could be in total darkness as we studied the constellations – his very favorite subject.

Granddaddy didn’t finish high school, but the man was a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. He knew the name of every constellation and loved to use the darkness to sharpen our eyes so we could study the beauty of God’s creation in the heavens. He called the constellations by name as I watched the skies, mesmerized.

Without complete darkness, we wouldn’t be able to see the beauty of the stars buried behind the city lights.

Without complete darkness, we wouldn’t be able to watch God’s majesty unravel before our eyes.

I was always amazed of how much I could see and hear when the lights went off. Things that I never noticed before became clear before my young eyes. Sounds were sharper, stars were brighter.

Darkness brought forth hidden treasures like nothing else.

Growing in Dark and Silent Places

In the realms of nature, darkness and shadows are places of growth and beauty.

Darkness brings out the beauty of stars. Certain flowers only flourish in the shadows. The famous, lush green fields of Scotland thrive under the shade of their continual fog. And it’s in the silence of the forest that we can best hear the birdsong.

Nature grows and shows its beauty in the darkness because it doesn’t fight its Maker. It simply yields to His methods, allowing His ways to bring beauty out of seemingly hopeless places.

I don’t know about you, but when I find myself in the darkness of my circumstances, whether for lack of answers or because of troubles that weigh me down, my tendency is to try to find out what lesson God is trying to teach me, or what He wants me to “do” to get me out of the valley and onto the next mountaintop.

My ever-busy mind keeps trying to figure out the next step… or understand His ways, when I know (that I know that I know)… that His ways are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8).

My restless hands keep reaching out in an attempt to do something; to turn the lights back on again… when all He wants is for me to sit in His presence, however dark it may feel, and find contentment and joy in His eternal light.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1

Sometimes the lesson during a time of silent waiting and dark valleys is simply one of TRUST.

The lesson may be simply taking our faith to the next level, where we find ourselves filled with joy even though we cannot see where He is leading us.

Simply. Because. We. Know. HE. Is. Leading.

In this season of waiting… or of darkness…
His voice is louder.
His light is brighter.
His protection is sure.

As I quietly rest under the shadow of the Most High…
As I deliberately choose to dwell in the shelter of the Almighty…
And although the light seems to be vanished from my life for a season…

I know He is accomplishing much richer things within me.

Like the confidence of the things I hope for and the assurance about what I do not see (Hebrews 11:1) … which cannot be obtained until I am blind to the future.

It’s accomplishing TRUE FAITH.

But I must choose not to fear the darkness.
I must choose to sit under His shadow, as still as I can be.
Knowing that even the darkness was created by Him.
And the shadow is nothing but a projection of His presence.

Be still, my heart.

And focus on the bright stars which the darkness tries to hide.

They conceal worlds of promises… eternal… infinite… bright. They were spoken of in the Psalms, by the prophets… and sealed as Messiah breathed His last.

Just as the sky on those warm Summer nights of my youth, endless and bright… so is our God’s unfailing Love for me… and you.

Be still, my heart.
And Know.
He IS forever God.
Forever Faithful.

Forever Yours.

LINKUP TIME – #SoaringwithJesus

I am so excited to announce the first #SoaringwithJesus LinkUp party at my blog!

Starting tomorrow, after 7 a.m., I will open the linky for you to add your own post. I’d love to connect with you on Twitter with the #SoaringwithJesus hashtag. Post your story of whatever God is doing in your life or the lives of those you love. You don’t need to be a professional writer. You won’t be judged. You are simply welcome. The only requirement is that you love Jesus with all your heart. And that you wish to glorify His Name through your words and testimony.

In order to participate, here’s what you have to do:

1. Write your blog story.
2. Come to my blog and use the easy-to-follow LinkUp at the end of this post.
3. Copy and paste the permalink for your post.
4. Find one or two of the bloggers who posted before you, visit their blogs and leave an encouraging comment.
5. Link their posts on Twitter with the hashtag #SoaringwithJesus
6. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page, and follow us on Twitter.
7. Promote this Linkup on your social walls – invite your blogger friends to join us!
8. I would appreciate it if you used our button on your site and let us know you are part of this community (you can find the button permalink on our sidebar – just copy and paste)
9. Leave a comment on this blog.
10. Be Encouraged to Keep spreading the Good News: He LOVES us and DESIGNED us to SOAR!

You are a blessing to me! Happy LinkUp!! #SoaringwithJesus @PatHolbrook

Patricia

The post Growing in Dark and Silent Places – #SoaringwithJesus appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

I stood in line earlier this week at the security checkpoint of Baltimore-Washington International, looking down at my watch, certain that I would miss my flight to Atlanta. Security was on high alert following the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris and subsequent threats to my homeland. Lines were moving extremely slowly.

My concern about missing the flight was actually welcome. It made my thoughts veer from fears that tried to take over my heart. Mostly, the fear of flying – an old unwelcome guest every time I have had to hop on a plane since 1997. It’s silly, I know. After all, according to statistics collected from 1993 to 2012 by PlaneCrashInfo.com, the probability of being killed on a major airline plane crash is 1 in 4.7 million. Even if you’re flying on one of the airlines with the worst safety records, your odds are still 1 in 2 million.

But the fact that I was once a passenger on an airplane that lost an engine after takeoff 18 years ago, coupled with my brother-in-law’s tragic death when his twin engine crashed in 2012, seems to overcome every data and any rationale. Indeed, fear is a most powerful emotion. It’s often senseless, and yet it has the potential to cripple the strongest, most rational human being. Its powerful tentacles can paralyze us and test our faith. When we give into fear, not only do we miss great opportunities in life, but we allow our emotions to dim our trust in God.

The terror attacks in Paris sent a wave of fear and conflicting emotions throughout the globe. Hate, revenge and hopelessness have permeated the airwaves and social media, while people of all walks of life and faiths debate the Syrian refugee crisis and how to fight ISIS, a cancer that seems to be quickly spreading its death to the West.

While our family discussed the threats of terror in the homeland one night last week, our younger daughter started covering her ears. “I don’t like to hear these things, Mommy,” she said. I had to remind her that the most repeated sentence in the Bible is “Do not fear. I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” And yet, I preach to myself, I know. Because fear is real when danger is imminent, even if you know all the right verses and statistics are on your side. But we must strive not to let it rotten our heart to the point of paralyzing our lives and changing us from people who pray and trust, to people who fear and tremble at the sight of danger. And yes, we must not be afraid to defend our freedom, not out of fear or hate, but because our freedom is a most precious gift, granted to us by almighty God and defended through the years with the blood of our brave soldiers.

Whether it pertains to worldwide terror or personal anxieties, when fear threatens to paralyze us, we must deliberately press on, lest we miss life’s greatest joys. I am certainly glad that I chose to get on that plane and overcome my fears once again. I was able to enjoy precious time with my best friend of 31 years and come home safely for Thanksgiving. I refuse to plant my feet on seemingly safe ground while giving in to threats of evil men, or to the lies that try to invade my heart. I choose to keep on trusting God, overpowering my fears by the power of his word and his eternal promise: even if the worst come, I’m never alone.

Patricia Holbrook is a Christian author and national conference speaker. Her first book, “Twelve Inches: Bridging the Gap Between What You Know About God and How You Feel,” is now available on Kindle, and paperback at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon and other retailers. Visit her blog to read her devotionals at www.soaringwithhim.com or email her atpholbrook@soaringwithhim.com .

The post Don’t Let Fear Replace Trust in God (Atlanta Journal Constitution Column) appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.