When you need Hope to Spring Forth

She wears a pink straw hat and sits beside me. We stretch across the grassy terrain with a breeze at our back, fresh blades of green between our fingertips and the warm blaze of God’s Grace beams upon us both.

It’s a new day, a new dawn, a new season. And all around is this message of HOPE. It’s a season of movement, of progress, of breakthrough.

Buds are bursting, branches are blooming, the barren is blossoming, the buried is rising and all that has been closed and concealed, is awakening with wonder.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge (Psalm 19:1-2). 

And all around His handiwork confirms the Holy-work intended for my heart. Every part of creation pointing towards Truth, every part of me coming undone before You.

I step outside and take slow strides guiding little feet to solid ground. Each decent down the concrete, I lift my heart to the hills – a heavy whisper, “Please God, don’t let these situations cement a message that isn’t of Truth, isn’t from You.”

Reaching the bottom, (you can only go up from there), I spot something new blooming – overnight! “I didn’t know we had t-h-o-s-e!” It’s my first Spring here and in the delicate unraveling of Cherry Blossom Trees, I contemplate the craft and skill of my Creator’s signature – the meticulous and miraculous all displayed on that branch. 

Isaiah reminds me of that Branch. In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing (Isaiah 4:2).

I inhale this moment – I’ve waited for it.

And Hope?

Hope is what we hold, when we’re in a holding place. It’s the anticipation that something Good and Glorious is on the way.  

And that Branch of hope – springing from the impossible, the invisible.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1).

And for the heart that’s sojourned far and long, that hard hike next to hope deferred; here it is, this new thing, new season – now springing forth! A time of nourishing and flourishing.

When the desire comes, it is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12).

The scenery is changing, the backdrop of Winter fades behind vibrant brushstrokes of Spring. An array of colors begin to adorn the land with evidence that – life still exists.

Because winter can be harsh and it takes some faith to press beyond circumstances and perceive that below the surface of what meets the eye – life lives on! For we walk by faith, not by sight (II Cor. 5:7). 

It’s that faith cultivated in the quiet of Winter, which yields a crop that can’t be contained.

And it’s Resurrection season. . .

All is rising to rhythm of Spring. And there’s this beckoning, to break-free, break-through and emerge from the dust of yesterday’s disappointments – to sprout up, spring forth and believe that buried hope will awaken to the calling and coming of Spring.

For out of struggle rises strength, out of trial rises trust . . .

Out of that stump of Jesse – rose our Savior Jesus.

And out of an empty tomb – arose the gift of Eternal Life.

Celebrate this Spring, for it’s the promise of life brought to fruition!

Scripture for your heart:

Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air (Song of Sol. 2:11-12). 

How does Spring speak to you? Do have some buried hope you’re waiting on God to bring forth? 

{Linking this post in the welcoming home of KristinHillTaylor}.