Panoramic Views - Habakkuk 3:17-18

From 2008-2010, my husband and I went through a really, really difficult season full of various trials, all with a financial desert as the landscape. I can look back now and see it was a watershed moment in our lives, truly, but at the time it was so, so hard. As I was trying to find an article to send a dear friend whose daughter is battling cancer, I ran across this post (and old email) that was originally written on April 2, 2010. How desperately I needed to be reminded of these truths this very day. How thankful I am for the Lord's sovereignty over all things! Even finding old emails! His timing is always providential!

May you enjoy the views from whatever vantage point the Lord places you on in this season of life, whatever season it is... and may you cling to Him in all seasons. 

2 April 2010

Charlotte, North Carolina has had quite a long, wet, and very cold winter. My bright purple rain boots have been put to ample use, and while I do enjoy them, I’d rather not have to use them multiple times a week. As the wet, cold weather persisted, so did my annoyance and grumbling. So, you can imagine my relief as temperatures have just recently started to creep up, the rains have relented, and the sun has decided to linger longer than a few hours. I honestly don’t remember ever being happier to see winter leave.

However, as much as I delight in winter’s departure, last week the Lord sent a poignant reminder of what winter, and no other season, brings… if only we have eyes to see.

Last Wednesday the sunset was gorgeous, and knowing how much I love sunsets, Forde told me to go outside and enjoy it while our dinner finished cooking. Standing on our back steps, I looked west to marvel at the panoramic majesty of God’s creativity painted in the sky. It was a stunning sight, one I wish I enjoyed more often, so I asked myself why I don’t do just that.

And that is when the Lord opened my eyes… 

I don’t often enjoy the sunset from the back steps because most of the year I can’t see it very well; there are too many trees in the way. Their abundance of leaves cloud my line of sight so that I am left with seeing only bits and pieces of the sunset. Yet on this particular evening, the trees have not been clothed in their spring leaves, and their barrenness - thanks to winter’s presence - opened up a spectacular and unobstructed view of God’s beauty, majesty, and glory... a view I so frequently miss because of abundance.

The same could be said of life as well. Winter seasons of life – those bleak, barren, desolate, bewildering times – have their blessings, too, blessings that do not seem to come in seasons of abundance. I don’t always have the heart to see or understand them immediately (if ever), but one unique blessing this sunset reminded me of is the sweet gift of a new, less obstructed view of God’s goodness, love, glory, and grace.  It is in life’s winters that this spectacular and fuller picture of the Lord’s heart and His attributes is gently given. It is in such times there are openings in our heart’s line of sight that are not always so clear.

Forde and I have very much seen this to be true. As nature’s winter transitions into spring, so a winter season of life seems to be fading into spring for us. We are cautiously hopeful and immensely grateful for this possible change of season. In all honesty, I don’t think we’ve ever been happier to see life’s season change. 

But, this sunset has given me reason to pause once again and reflect on all that the Lord has shown us through this time… much of which I doubt we would know so deeply, understand so fully, and be convinced of so thoroughly had God not seen fit to take us down this barren path. It is because of all that we have experienced, felt, been with, and been without over the past two years that we truly have seen a more panoramic view of how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

How very thankful I have become for winter. Scripture always puts it best: “The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21) He has taught that there are reasons to praise and trust Him in all seasons. I pray that lesson sticks and that you, too, can say the same. Should the Lord be giving, praise Him. Should the Lord be taking (stripping you), praise Him even then, for there you shall find Him and see Him more clearly. May the Lord give you eyes to see Him in all seasons, and may you treasure those views however they may come, in joys or trials.

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV

Read it again slowly..."Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." 

May you rejoice in your Savior who gave His own life for you so that you would know Him and have life to the full!

In Christ,

Jessica