It is not yet time for the message to come true. But that time is coming soon. The message will come true. It may seem like a long time before it happens. But be patient and wait for it. These things will happen. They will not be delayed.” Habakkuk 2:3 (ICB)
Rachael sat at the breakfast table, head on her hand, dejectedly stirring her cereal. It was yet another day of ice and wind and snow. That meant it was yet another day of long pants, long sleeves and her tired looking winter coat. Her grandma had sent her a really cool new dress with leggings for her birthday that she desperately wanted to wear. But it had been too cold or too snowy or too windy or too rainy to wear it. When was spring really going to get here?
Her teacher had told her that spring had started the third week of March – almost a month ago. And for a couple of days, the weather did warm up and she had left the special outfit hanging on her door, waiting for the perfect day to wear it. But then came the rain and eventually more snow. Eventually, the special outfit went back into Rachael’s closet.
Rachael’s mom knew why she was so disappointed. The prolonged winter season had been wearing on her, too. She knew what it was like to weather a long season of disappointment. She had been standing and praying for the restoration of her marriage and the salvation of Rachael’s dad for a long season. But just the other day, during her daily devotional time, she had received a promise from the Lord in His Word.
“What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.” Isaiah 46:11b
Rachael’s mom had been praying for a new rhema word, a renewed promise, that she was on the right road and doing God’s will. This, she felt, was her word. After she thanked the Lord and closed her Bible, she had gone outside to start the car. There, right at the edge of a big mound of snow, a delicate crocus was peeking through. She had smiled to see its bright yellow head standing proudly amid the snowy background. It was confirmation for her that spring was on its way, both here on Earth and in her heart.
Remembering that promise, she wanted to share it with Rachael. When Rachael was finally ready for school, once again in her long pants, long sleeves and tired winter coat, Mom took her by the hand and led her outside. She showed Rachael the crocus that had braved the circumstances of the cold weather and snow to pop it’s head out and confirm the promise of spring on the way. Scooping away a little of the snow, they found to their delight that the lonely crocus had been joined by several others, a patch of bright yellow promise in the middle of a long season.
That afternoon when Rachael got home from school, she went to her closet and pulled out the special dress with the leggings that Grandma had sent. The yellow and white stripes reminded her of the yellow crocuses in the patch of white snow that Mom had shown her that morning. The words her mom had shared about the promises from God for their family had given her hope once again. Hope for spring, hope for new things, hope for restoration of her family. With this hope and God’s Word in her heart, Rachael once again hung the special outfit on her door, ready to step out on the promise.
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. Romans 4:20-21 (NLT)
God bless
A Stander in Nebraska
