Spring's Hope for Renewing Our Dry Places

Resiliency in Life's Hard Realities

Though I find myself walking another hard and very unexpected path this week, I have some tremendous encouragement for you! I have some beautiful extras to share with you, and a special announcement, so please read to the end!!

In my part of the world spring is struggling for a place at the table. Though making every effort to emerge from the harsh reality of winter, many flowers have escaped their underground protection only to be blasted by yet another frost.

Pondering the timid entrance of spring in these chilly days of early April, my mind continues returning to the theme of renewal. Awed and inspired by the resiliency of creation, I wonder at the strength of tiny green tips poking through dry mulch and dead leaves. All inviting the embrace of spring’s hope for renewing the dry places in my own spiritual garden.

Seasons of life take their toll on our spiritual garden in the same way the change of meteorological seasons and harsh weather conditions challenge creation.

Trials, prolonged suffering, illness, and pressures of everyday life create the need for spiritual renewal. Spring’s hope in creation reminds us that renewing the dry places in our spiritual lives brings the refreshment we need after harsh seasonal changes.

Due to our sin nature and separation from God, our physical bodies deteriorate day by day moving towards ultimate physical death. But God sent His Son, Jesus, to purchase our redemption, providing eternal life for our spiritual inner man. (John 3:16)

In Christ, God provides the way to renewal of the inner, spiritual man, which will one day become evident, springing forth from the dead remains of our physical bodies.

In the meantime, embracing spring’s hope for renewal helps us tend our spiritual gardens. As I pulled away dead stems and debris from around a few of the Jacob’s Ladders in our garden, my thoughts turned towards the wounded and dry places in my own spirit.

Sometimes the winters of life leave us with the debris of hurts, frustrations, and even neglect which requires attention if we want continued spiritual growth.

How can we experience spiritual renewal? By first understanding God promised renewal, and only He can provide the renewal we need.

But often the harsh realities of our lives bring discouragement and even a sense of hopelessness. Just as spring struggles to gain a foothold from winter’s loping exit, we struggle embracing the spiritual renewal God has for us.

Try incorporating the following mindfulness exercises as a way of regularly renewing the spiritual dry places.

• Relinquish. Set aside your schedule, demands, and responsibilities long enough to bring awareness to those areas feeling dry, wounded, and broken.

• Rest. In God’s Presence. Allow the feelings of dryness or emptiness to come to the surface. Consider your real needs around the wounded and broken places. Meditate on God’s steadfast love for you. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

• Reflect. Where exactly is renewal most needed? Where are you most weary?

Intentionally set aside time over the course of a few days, even five or ten minutes at the end of your daily quiet time, or as you close out your evening. Keep your Bible close by, and a journal or scratch pad.

The beauty of spring’s hope for renewing our dry places comes through the nurturing of the Holy Spirit. His gentleness with your wounded, parched places, brings refreshment and healing; fostering new spiritual growth from the very places which seemed so barren.

But you must surrender to the caring hand of the Master Gardener, who alone knows your deepest needs for revival. His hands mold times and seasons, calling forth life buried deep within the withered, weary places of your heart.

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Yay! You made it this far, now or more good stuff!

As Holy Week looms be sure to check out my special Holy Week post detailing each day of Jesus’ last week on earth. It will provide an intimate way to reflect on Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. Read the post HERE.

I am honored to have my memoir essay about my Dad’s death in April, 37 years ago, featured in Aletheia Today’s Resurrection Issue! Please enjoy this spring themed essay on new life through hardship, READ IT HERE.

A second essay on the hope hidden in spring is also featured in Aletheia Today’s Resurrection Issue. READ IT HERE.

And lastly, my feature length memoir essay, “Making Peace with May Memories” was chosen for publication in Austur Literary Magazine on April 26th! I am so thrilled to have my work featured in print and digital journals.

You can purchase a print and digital subscription at Austur Magazine for a very reasonable price and enjoy my essay as well as outstanding poetry and essays by the other contributors! Go to THIS LINK for all the details.

For all of my PAID subscribers, I will be emailing you directly a link to a FREE copy of Austur Literary Magazine, Issue 4, so you can enjoy reading my essay and the other fantastic entries after it drops on April 26th.

If you are not a PAID subscriber, you can upgrade to a PAID subscription and receive the FREE issue of Austur Magazine as well as unlimited access to all my posts unavailable anywhere else, but also access to my poetry, special access to personal and insider updates and occasional FREE resources, all for less than the price of a good cappuccino! Plus, you will be supporting my work!

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Now, last but not least, my Special Announcement! Due to some unforeseen changes, I am able to open up more slots in my speaking calendar for late spring, summer and fall!

I want to offer my services to my Serenity in Suffering Community. If your church or organization is looking for a speaker for a particular event in the coming months, please consider booking me.

I will bring an encouraging, hope-filled, authentic message or testimony to your group or event, on grief, walking with God through suffering and loss, or any biblical theme of your choice. I am committed to a faithful interpretation of Scripture and will inspire listeners to follow God in deeper intimacy of faith.

Contact me via email at donna@serenityinsuffering.com for more details or to book your event.

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Finally…

Catch up at the blog:

When Darkness Reveals the Light of God’s Promises-Read HERE