This morning my little nephew said, "Hey, it's snowing. Does that mean it's winter now?"
I laughed and tried to explain to him as we were catching snow flakes on our tongues, that it was technically still summer. He was confused and so was I. Finally, after a whole lot of mumbo jumbo, the only words that actually made sense fell out of my mouth.
"Who knows, buddy. All I know is that God's the one who makes the snow, so if it's snowing in summer, God must have decided we needed it."
He seemed satisfied with that answer. And somewhere in my heart, where deeper questions than "Why is it snowing in the summer?" reside, I was satisfied too.
There's nothing quite like a fresh blanket of snow in the summer to cause a buzz. Everyone's been digging out their snow boots, wondering whether class will be cancelled, and deciding what to do with their gardens. People get all hyped up and crazy when something unexplainable and unpredictable happens. It seems everyone becomes a fortune teller or practicing weather man as they tell tall tales of the feet of snow that will surely fall and what it will mean for this winter and for the winters to come. A little snow in the summer time sure has a way of waking us up and stirring something within us.
Doesn't this ring true in all areas of our lives? I've come to expect a little heat in the summer and snow in the winter. I know how to plan and proceed with navigating those seasons of life. But snow in the summer??? PANIC! I don't have a play book for that.
I feel like a child, ill equipped to handle this. So with my snow boots in hand, prepared for what could be, flip flops on my feet, remembering what was, and eyes brimming with the uneasiness of what is, I walk through the snow to my Heavenly Father's door.
The door opens, and with all the inquisition of a child, I ask,
"Daddy? Why is it snowing in summer?"
He welcomes me in, tends to my frigid, confused soul and replies,
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth
Making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes out from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish that which I purpose,
And shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:8-11
I may not know why it's snowing in the summer, but God does. And He's going to see to it that it accomplishes that which He has purposed.
What a great God!
"He heals, the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills." Psalm 147: 3-8
Do you feel ill equipped for the season you're in?
It's ok. HE prepares rain for the earth. HE makes grass grow on the hills.
Do you feel confused and powerless?
It's ok. HE is abundant in power. HIS understanding is beyond measure.
Do you wonder if God could possibly keep track of all that's going on in your life?
It's ok. HE gives every star a name. HE knows your name too.
Does the snow sting in your wounds?
It's ok. HE heals the brokenhearted. HE binds up their wounds.
So if you find yourself in flip flops, standing in a blanket of snow, you need not fear.
The Lord lifts up the humble. Cry out to Him. Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving!
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure!
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