Seasons of Nature and Spiritual Growth: Winter ❄️
I’m sitting on my patio soaking up scattered moments of warm sunshine before the snow comes to Denver this week. It is February, after all, and I’m finding myself overcome with gratefulness for our Creator and His majesty. God speaks to my heart so clearly when I’m immersing myself in nature, and I’m so grateful for days like today when I get to be outside spending time resting with Jesus. Especially when I know snow is on the way.
It seems appropriate then that last week's Soul Rest yoga and biblical meditation classes at Denver United Church started our exploration of rest and how that looks in the season of winter, both as a season in nature and spiritual growth.
Winter in nature is marked as a long and dreary season. It is a time of heart growth (inner growth) in trees and plants.
I love knowing there is wisdom in nature. Even the trees understand the importance of rest. Deciduous trees, like the aspen, shed their leaves in the fall because they have started sending all their energy into their trunks to prepare for the winter cold. They prepare for a season of rest.
How might God be asking you to rest through the remainder of this winter?
Here are some of my favorite ways to mindfully rest in winter:
Enjoy a warm drink
Indulge in skincare that nourishes
Encourage mindful conversations
Soak up the afternoon sun around a fire pit
Find gratitude for evergreens
Winter in spiritual growth represents a time of introspection and examining our hearts and motives. A time of allowing God to make changes in us. A time for strengthening and maturing.
You may find yourself in a spiritual winter season. Sit with Jesus, and ask Him to shine a light on the internal places He wants to work in you to heal during this season.
It was during my own winter season of seeking that I experienced some of my greatest challenges. I was questioning everything I had ever known about my faith, and it was a painful process. But as I began to take steps towards healing, I realized that this was a necessary part of my journey. I had to deconstruct my conditioned beliefs in order to build a stronger foundation of truth. God very clearly spoke to me, asking me to search my heart for who I truly believed Him to be, not just relying on what the world was telling me.
Eventually, I emerged from this season with God to find a newfound sense of clarity and purpose. I felt more connected to Him than ever before, and I began to see the world through a different lens. But I also recognized that growth is a continual process and that there would be more seasons to come.
How can you rest in the hope of His promises of growth when things look like winter all around us?
“This is what the Soverign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.’”
As I’ve continued to grow in my faith and daily walk with Jesus, I’ve learned that each season has its own set of gifts and challenges. There have been seasons of abundance, where I felt as though I was walking on a cloud of joy and contentment. And there have been seasons of darkness, where I felt as though I was trapped in a pit of despair.
But no matter what season I’m in, I’ve come to realize that my mental health and well-being are essential to my spiritual growth. When I prioritize my mental health, I’m able to show up for myself and for others in a more authentic way. I’m able to be more present, more compassionate, and more resilient.
I want to encourage you to recognize the season that you’re in. Take the time to reflect on where you are, and what you need to move forward. Invite the Holy Spirit into all of your searching, and be amazed at how He shows up. Remember that even in the midst of your darkest season, there is always hope for growth and healing.
Prioritize your mental health, surround yourself with a supportive community, and never give up on the journey towards a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Jesus.
