Pastor’s Place: Spring Has Sprung . . . Right?

Dr. Matthew Harding, Pastor, The WELL Community Church

Everyone loves spring!  Just the other week we had a couple of days with the most lovely spring weather.  We enjoyed being outside.  Planned what we wanted to plant in the backyard.  My wife even mentioned it was time to put up the winter clothes and get the summer clothes down from the closet.

Then, the most peculiar thing happened. Just as we thought spring had sprung and our souls were loosed with joy and frolic, winter came back ‘round.  Unexpectedly, the wind blew in the most frigid weather and blew out our hopes of a wonderfully warm weekend.

I thought to myself “this spring weather in Texas is tricky, truly unpredictable.” One day is warm, i.e. “let’s get out the swim trunks.”  Then, the next day is cold, i.e. “where are my gloves again?”  Up and then down.  Then Repeat.

Frustrated, it occurred to me as I was bemoaning my sporadic, climatized-condition that my own spiritual life is just like the spring-like erratic weather.

Sometimes I’m up, encouraged, joyous, and loving life as a blessed man.  Then, other days without any warning at all – I’m down.  Discouraged, overwhelmed, and angry for no reason.  If you are like me, you need a lot of grace when it comes to your spiritual temperature.

Up and down.  Then repeat.  I am so thankful that God loves us when we are unpredictable.  God’s grace is always available, His everlasting love and mercy are always dependable, always reliable toward us who don’t deserve it.

So, I am reminded that “God’s ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55:8) and that “God is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) which encourages me to know God is always steady and dependable even when I am not.  I need so much more of His spiritual steadiness in my life.  Can you relate?

Lord, today as I read this, help me to be more steady in my spiritual life, in my love and praise of You, and in my love and service to my fellow man, in spending time reading Your Word and making time for Church.  Thank you for loving me dependably and always even when I’m not.  Amen!

The Pastor’s Place features columns written by a different area church leader each month.Call 940-728-8284 for more information.