Unchanging

I the Lord do not change.
-Malachi 3:6


The sky has hardened into an iron atmosphere, layering itself with blankets of clouds thick and full of snow, which will no doubt spill to earth within days. As I inhale the air into my lungs, it no longer soothes; it stings. I dig my hands deeper into my pockets, attempting to corral the last remnants of autumn that have slipped into the seams of my coat, clinging for dear life.

Bare branches. Signs of the color that once graced the world mere weeks ago, now turned to an ashen state, cowering close to the ground. Empty parks, void of laughter and light. Waking and falling to sleep in darkness. And that endless chill that tears right through the seven layers I pile on. Farewell, Fall. Welcome, Winter.

Yet with the exit of harvest hopes enters the dreams of December. Silent, snowy walks. The scent of crackling wood exiting through brick laden chimneys, filling the already spice spilled space in my heart with an aroma of warmth and kindling excitement. Cookie decorating that ends with the majority of frosted sugar treats in my mouth instead of the storage tin.

With the dip of the temperature, so comes the rise of star studded nights and cozy couch sittings where I can sprawl with a cup of hot chocolate and let melodic Christmas songs bathe me in the comfort of our coming King.

Seasons change. It’s inevitable. We can prepare ourselves and hold onto the memories of warmer, brighter times, but the change is still going to greet you in the morning, when you slip outside to take on the morning and a billow of crystallized breath erupts from your lips. We cannot control the fluctuating weather, our attitudes, our circumstances that come along with each moment, but we have a God who stands solid and steady, month after month, year after year.

He is unchanging. He is completely aware of all that happens. He sees your struggles, your pain, the tears you bottle in your heart, too proud to let spill. He is the One who casts a silver sheen on the midnight moon, dancing off the fresh powder sprinkled over your yard.

If the God of all seasons dictates when they fill and fade, how much more does He involve Himself in your life? He wants to stroll with you this holiday season, wants to take your hand and show you all the beauty you may have missed in years past. This time, you will have Someone beside you who won’t let you miss tiny details as they develop into overwhelming delights.

So listen to the whistle of the wind as it glides across your face and tucks a strand of hair or two behind your ear. God is singing to you, beckoning you to see what He is bringing your way this month of magic.


Prayer:
Lord, You are steady and unchanging. The shifting seasons may bring cold and busyness from commercial satisfaction, but You have meant it as a time to slow and see the world through Your eyes, to view the beauty around us in this seasonal transition with awe. Thank You for Your presence as we roll through the seasons and months, pressing forward for You. Please light my heart to feel Your glow as I reflect upon what this time of year really means. Amen.