The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25-36
The weatherman says it’s going to snow here in Wilmington, NC, and believe me, it is the talk of the neighborhood and the local TV station. A polar vortex is bringing a harsh arctic blast to millions of Americans, including those in the South. They say it could be a historic snowfall in many parts of the southern United States, and recommended preparations are posted everywhere. Growing up in West Virginia, I am no stranger to snow and cold. I’m in the very small minority of folks in our coastal neighborhood who enjoy the snow and don’t mind the thermometer dipping. While I love to stay indoors and watch it snow and make soup, the realistic me knows that extreme cold and snow are brutal. It’s brutal for people who work outside, for animals, and just getting out to do life is more complicated. Winter as beautiful as it can be; the brutality of it ushers in a sense of anticipation. The longing for brighter days, warmer temperatures, more effortless living, and that first green sign of spring.
The Book of Esther is one of my favorite books in the Bible. Max Lucado writes, “In the book of Esther, it’s as if God, in his kind providence, heard all the prayers of all the souls who have ever been stuck in an arctic January. To every person who has longed to see a green sprig on a barren branch, he says, “Follow Me. I want you to see what I can do.” The brutality of life can bring the same sense of anticipation for emotionally weary people, the person surrounded by adversaries, outsmarted by fate, and outdone by fear. They long for the daily drama to bring refreshing news, to feel safely and securely encompassed by friends and family, for the wheel of providence to land in their favor, and for the gut-gripping fear to be replaced by peace. They search daily for the first bud on the leafless tree to bring a sense of hope that the long winter will soon be followed by spring. But where do they search? Do they choose the latest self-help book or podcast based on their dilemma? Do they google and read the recommendations from Reddit or Quora? Do they ask Alexa and hear the AI response? Or turn to secular-minded friends and family? The list of sources for help is endless. But the Bible tells us clearly where that help should come from, “I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).
Psalm 121 is one of the “Songs of Ascent” sung by pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem. As a weary traveler walks towards Jerusalem, he lifts his tired head and scans the horizon for the city that sits high on the hill. How much longer must he helplessly journey? How much longer will the lonely Arctic winter last? His gaze must move upward to search for Jerusalem because the answer cannot be found in the dirt path beneath his feet. The road offers different options for the journey, but only by looking up can the right direction be seen, and it avoids becoming lost in the wilderness. The world presents many opportunities to find help, but the Spirit-led answer can only be found by turning the pages of His Word. The gaze continues towards the heavenly realm, past the Holy City, where the Lord of Lords and King of Kings resides. And the search ends, Spring has come. Yahweh quietly whispers from the clouds, “Follow Me.” And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The picture is of my West Virginia family farm, situated atop South Fork Mountain in the beautiful foothills of the Shenandoah Mountain.