I love daffodils. My heart flutters the first time each year that I see them blooming. They signal Spring for me.

As much as I love them, I have never ever had daffodils in my yard. That is, until this year.

Every Spring for as long as I can remember, my mother’s yard has burst with multitudes of tender explosions of yellow daffodils. This Spring will be ten years since she went to be with Jesus, still the daffodils bloom in her yard. Now she lives in eternal Spring with Him. I cannot imagine the beauty, joy and love that she experiences every day.

The Saturday before Mother’s Day last year, after the daffodils quit blooming, I went to her house and dug up some of her bulbs. I remember the day very well. My son, Bradley, and I planted them at the edge of our yard near the road in a wooded patch. It was pouring rain. We both got drenched as we dug in the mud. It was a sweet memory my mother would have loved.

The other day as I was walking my little dog, I discovered that the plants had sprouted. They pushed through the hard ground of the long cold Winter and are now budding. It brought a tear and a smile all at the same time. I cannot wait to see them in full bloom. They make me feel close to my mom. They also remind me to never give up hope. After the Winter, then comes the Spring.

As Robert Orben wrote, “Spring is God’s way of saying, ‘One more time!’“

Trials come through cycles in our lives like the seasons. There are sometimes spiritual winters when our hearts can feel hard and frozen. I think we have all been there. We wonder where God is and why we cannot feel his love. Natalie Allyn Wakeley Sleeth (1930-1992) must have known the struggle of a spiritual winter first hand when she wrote Hymn of Praise (Copyright Hope Publishing Company):

“In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;

In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of Winter, there’s a Spring that waits to be,

Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.”

Sometimes when we face trials, it seems like we will never get through them. Our Winter seems to last forever. But in God’s time, He will bring us into the sunshine and warmth of His love to a new season. He is always working a plan for us—one for our good and for his glory. Make no mistake. It is hard. But with each new season, we can emerge stronger, better, and changed if only we will let Him finish His good work in us.

First comes Winter, then comes the Spring … Soon the miracle of Spring is going to burst through, just you wait and see.

Dear Lord: As the signs of Spring begin to show around us, we thank You for Your never-ending love. It is the source of all life and of every Springtime. Thank You not only for the Springtime around us, but for the Springtime within us that only comes from You. Thank You for preserving our lives through the dead and hardness of the Wintertimes. You always bring us new life, new joy, and new love that pushes aside the old, gets us through the trials, and renews our souls, our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. Only You can create such beauty as You strive to make us more like your Son, Jesus. Amen.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Are you experiencing a seemingly endless Winter? Don’t despair, and don’t give up on yourself or on God. Remember the Sun is still shining above the clouds even when you cannot see it. Just keep pressing on, and fully relying on the Lord and his guidance. He will see you through.

Please share your experiences, your thoughts and your comments to encourage our group.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost. May God keep you through the Winter, and bless you with a beautiful Spring of renewal and joy.