4 Truths to Remember This Spring

Though I live in Southern California where the difference between seasons is minimal, there is still something about Spring that stands out as particularly awesome. Spring speaks of good things like life, color, and sunshine. 

I especially came to enjoy Spring when we moved into a house with 3 deciduous trees out my front window (ya know, the kind where the leaves change colors and drop in the Fall). I’ve loved my front row seat to some seasonal colors. Seriously, what’s better than seeing empty branches turn into life-filled green leaves that sparkle in the sunlight? (Okay, maybe colorful Fall leaves come pretty close.)

Well, as I’ve been enjoying Spring’s arrival, a few truths keep coming to mind….

#1 God is amazingly creative 

Think about how the most talented interior designers decorate a home. After filling in with essentials, they beautify empty space with various dimensions, shapes, and colors. I always appreciate their knack for creativity. But even the most talented designer only displays a fraction of the creativity our God displays in nature. Just look around outside — you can’t help but marvel at God’s diversified design. There’s dimensions, shapes, and colors everywhere. And the beauty you see around you is only a tiny portion of the earth. 

Our planet has tens of thousands of tree species, there are hundreds of thousands of flower types. Not to mention numerous oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains, forests, jungles, and the list goes on and on. 

God could have made things so much more practical, basic, and boring in comparison to what we have. But he is a creative God, and we should praise him as such.

#2 God is so kind!

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us that we should love not only our neighbors, but also our enemies, so that we can be like God, who “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). In other words, God shows his kindness by allowing all people to enjoy the wonders of nature (even those at odds with God).

Both Christian and non-Christian alike are given the opportunity to watch sunsets and sunrises, to experience rain, to see flowers bloom, to walk through green meadows and to enjoy every ounce of beauty Spring brings (or any other time of year for that matter). Our God is good and kind. 

#3 We have a lot to look forward to 

When nature is at it’s best, I’m reminded of eternity. I think to myself “This is beautiful, I can only imagine what we’ll get to enjoy on the New Earth, forever.” Just think, the world we are in right now is corrupted by sin (Genesis 3:17), and it’s still gorgeous. How much more beauty will we experience when sin and it’s effects are wiped away?! I can’t wait to find out!

#4 Joy comes in the morning

This final thought is a little less about the beauty of Spring, and more about what Spring reminds me. 

Sometimes everything feels cold and dark like a barren tree in the middle of Winter. But usually that’s not the end of the story. This came to mind when I recently saw purple flowers blooming on what had been a dead-looking tree (in a different part of my yard). 

More often than not, much like those bright blooms, joy is just around the corner. “New mercies” (Lamentations 3:23) will soon blossom. Or like the Psalmist said, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Our God is not a distant God who’s ambivalent to our pain. He’s a good Father who enjoys providing the sweet joys of life (James 1:17)— so when it’s in your best interest, you can expect his new mercies to bloom.

Enjoy Spring & Praise God!

No doubt you agree, Spring is a great time of year (and you probably give a double “amen” if you’ve been stuck indoors all Winter)! So, as you enjoy the warm sunshine, the bright colors and the sweet smells this time of year, remember to think often of God and his goodness! 

NOTE: My Pastor recently gave a related sermon from Psalm 8. Here’s the link if you’d like more reason to praise God for his good creation.