“Oh no you didn’t,” rolled off my tongue with frustration as I tried to peer out our ice-encrusted windows. Mother Nature’s cold snap was well into her third week of stellar performances. Gone was my initial happy dance at the first snowfall. Now, the lather, rinse, repeat of snow and ice made me want to wash this storm right out of my hair. Columbia Gorge’s intense weather patterns only added to these unsolicited encores, producing vigorous storms for no extra charge. Yet it still cost those who faced its tempest; its super-size portions of snow, ice, and gale winds.
That day I found myself weary of this continuing storm; my spirits drooped much like the ice-laden trees buckling from the sheer weight. Desiring to be stout in spirit, capable to forge through this chilly adversity, I was hoping to counter the hand dealt to me with a sunshiny Pollyanna perspective. Instead, my cheery outlook was covered by a foreboding nimbostratus cloud. No way would you be hearing me belt out that I wanted the storm to rage on. The cold did bother me. What was Elsa thinking? And though the storm’s fury paled in comparison to the poor folks I watched suffer on the nightly news, this storm was enough to wear me down.
As I looked to thaw my frigid faith, I grabbed my Bible, deciding to turn to Job 38. Right off the bat the first verse grabbed my attention. It read, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm.” Could it be God was trying to get my attention with this long screeching halt, this intrusion to my day-to-day schedule?
Just maybe He wanted me to be still and enjoy the stillness of the winter wonderland—falling down into glistening snow’s brisk arms to make an angel out of its powdery wonder, allowing my eyes to gaze towards Heaven’s expanse. Or maybe cocooned in an ice castle with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords as His snow princess. Whatever the physical or spiritual climate, we are to be present in the moment not waiting for the storms to pass, choosing to dance in the rain (or snow for that matter).
Further on, God asks Job this question in Job 38:22 AMPC: “Have you entered the treasuries of the snow. Or have you seen the treasures of hail…”
Whenever personal storm clouds of disappointment brew, cabin fever of restlessness and irritability overrides my desire to seek the hidden treasures of the snow. Not to mention treasures can be hard to find when storms assail, buried in deep snowdrifts of heartbreak, grief, illness or other blizzards of loss. My snow-blinded faith can make it impossible to see God’s bigger picture of provision and purpose. Many times, life’s treasures lay concealed until we let our cold hearts slowly thaw from grief and disappointment.
Arctic blasts of doubt and fear blocked out God’s warming presence from fully reaching my anguished soul. God never left me; it was only I who had lost my way.
It reminds me how, as a child, I lost my warm knit glove while walking home from school one snowy day. Arriving home, I sadly told my mom what had happened; with a sense of hope in her voice she said, “Let’s keep this one in case the other one shows up.”
Eventually, the snow melted and winter gave way to spring…my little glove now a distant memory. Cherry blossom trees lined the sidewalk as my friend and I intermittently skipped and giggled our way home. Stopping to catch my breath, my eyes suddenly spotted my little glove pushed up against a cyclone fence, nestled among a bed of dry furled leaves. Hope reborn, as lost is found, a treasure laid bare from melted snow.
God lovingly waits for us to partner with Him, syncing up to His truths, knowing in our “knower” His plans for us are for our good and not evil. Those little gloves remain a beautiful reminder of that lost things can be still be found…even when we have lost our faith! It’s just like Habakkuk the prophet complaints in Habakkuk chapter 1:1–3 ESV:
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?
Eugene H. Peterson (pastor and the creator of the Message Bible) has an introduction to Habakkuk saying this: “Habakkuk started out exactly where we started out with our puzzled complaints and God accusations, but he didn’t stay there. He ended up in a world, along with us, where every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”
Like Habakkuk, I no longer want to have my faith wheels stuck in drifts of why questions. Rather, I want to have the traction of trust produce forward movement as “I lean my entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness…” (Colossians 1:4 AMPC my paraphrase).
God invites us to build a snowman, gathering splendid treasures from His majesty. Each unique snowflake of life experiences is rolled up and fashioned into something new, bringing a smile to our face from a jolly new creation—a gift wrapped up in His loving sovereignty. All of this patted down and molded with childlike faith gloves.
So, my friend, do you want to build a snowman?
“Winter forms our character and brings out our best.” –Tom Allen
I thank you most High God! You are breathtaking. —Psalm 139:15 MSG
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. —Psalm 51:7 ESV
Prayer:
God of all seasons, You are the maker of Heaven and earth. The heavens declare the glory of the Lord on full display for all creation to see. You find that which is lost and bring hope back to that which was once was buried. Your eye is on the sparrow, and You watch over each one of your children to bless and do good all the days of their lives.
From Grace - Filled Seasons A 52 Week Discovery of God's All - Sufficient Grace
( The Lost Glove formally called "Oh Snap on pg 37) Lisa Jennings