Alright, I admit it, sometimes I dislike winter. But this season, I've found a new perspective on the dismal and dreary period of our climate, and I've come to the conclusion that I wouldn't want to live somewhere where it's perpetually sunny and warm. (Crazy, right?)

The smell of wet, muddy grass, the sight of those tiny purple beacons of hope popping up, the sound of robins rejoicing. Spring is on its way! The sun beams down with a friendliness not equaled in winter. Ah, the delight of spring, the blessings of warmth and greenery no longer withheld.

Waiting for spring teaches us to appreciate both winter and spring. They each serve a different purpose. God teaches us different things in our "winters" than He does in our "springs." He may choose to temporarily withhold some good thing from us but He surely knows what He's doing. Even when we can't see what month it is − whether our "winter" will last for another hour or another year − He is faithful. He is good. He is pruning. And as they say, there is no June without January. I think God intended nature and our spiritual lives to work like that − to coincide in such an important way.

In winter, we can choose to live in the moment. We can choose to see the majestic pines dressed in layers of snow as they fulfill their calling to glorify God. Rather than focusing on what we don't have in this season, we can fix our eyes on the blessings we do have: steaming mugs of hot chocolate by the fireplace, ice skating, cozy scarves and blankets, chicken noodle soup, and intricate snowflakes.

God has changed my perspective. Moving down South has lost its appeal to me. I want to live somewhere where it's acceptable to have seasons when I don't have it all together and when the pieces of my life are more than a tad messy. I need the season of winter to teach me to be content in being single, in still living with my parents, and in being unsure of what career I want to go into. There is no longer pressure to make my current life exactly how it's supposed to turn out in the end. I'm allowed to have those slushy seasons, where the snow is brown and the roads are white with salt. But at the same time, I can find joy in simple, ordinary things like family dinners, getting a good grade on a test, laughter with friends at lunch, a mid-winter burst of sunshine and blue skies, a productive day at work, and answered prayer requests. Daily challenges can become chances to grow into the person I want to be. Uncertainties can help me to lean harder upon Jesus. The choice to dwell on what is lovely and good in daily life (Philippians 4:8) doesn't always come naturally during the hard seasons, but it is definitely worth the extra effort.

And because of that, I don't have to frantically wish and pray for God to immediately take away all the ugliness. I trust His process from ashes to beauty. I put my faith in my Creator, my good, good Father, and declare,

"You know what? Winter is really not that bad after all!"