I was reminded of an important truth over the weekend:

Just because we don’t visibly see growth taking place, doesn’t mean that growth is not taking place.

The season of winter is a great reminder of this fact.

When trees and grass and so many other things grow quiet during the winter months (on the outside, above ground — in the visible world), it doesn’t necessarily mean that it has died. In fact, it is much more likely that the “growing” has simply gone underground.

Biologist and/or botanist could give us a much more eloquent explanation as to why and how this happens.

What I can offer is that I think this truth speaks to how we must understand the work of God in our lives — and in the lives of our students and colleagues as well.

There are times when growth is evident — and that’s lovely.

But we all know that there are plenty of times when the growing seems to have stopped. And it’s easy to become frustrated. It’s easy to give up and call it a lost cause.

May we be reminded and encouraged that, in this season of winter, the personal seasons of winter will befall us all — and that we need not give up (or give up on others), but trust that God is at work below the surface… preparing for an incredible and inevitable spring!