Beauty in the Midst of Hardship

I love this time of year. Advent began when Celtic and Christian traditions merged as they found familiarity in each other’s beliefs around the dark season preceding the winter solstice - which originally fell on 24th December. A recognition of a spiritual journey through the season after harvest when rest and reflection of the closing year occurred. Ancient Celts decorated the darkness with light and on 24th December hung lights on a bare tree to welcome in the new birth of spring. Ancient Christians sat with darkness as a place of spiritual expectancy, waiting for new life to emerge.

Often times we look at darkness as evil and in many instances it can be but even in the midst of that God can use it as a place of preparation. If you are in a season where circumstances seem to be engulfing you don’t lose heart. God has not left you, His eyes have not overlooked you. He is there in the darkness bending it to His purpose to bring healing and redemption to your life and circumstances. He will use even these moments to create a place where life can spring up. I know in the midst of hardship it can be difficult to receive a word that God will use it but I can testify that even in my darkest moments I was able to rejoice at how He redeemed them and used them for my good. How He made a place where life began to well up even in the midst of hard times. I can testify that though it sometimes felt like it I was never alone. Slowly, He was able to bring forth blessing to my life out of some pretty dark stuff. If you are in such a season know that He is not far off and He is working things out for your good. He loves you and is with you in the midst of your circumstances.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28-30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬