Spring is in the air, with signs of new life all around us! Sunrise waits just a little longer to make its appearance. Sounds of chirping birds echo throughout the neighborhood as they flit from tree to tree, gathering twigs for their nest. Animals and insects emerge from hibernation as the winter chill begins to fade. Trees and flowers wake from their slumber, budding new life. Sunset lingers, painting the sky radiant into the evening hours. With all this transition, fresh life is brought forth as a new season emerges.

My husband’s previous job involved working with lawn care, studying various types of grass so that proper treatment could be applied. As his knowledge grew, he was able to diagnose why a grass wasn’t flourishing, or what nutrients were needed. Some grasses that appear brown and lifeless, while technically still alive, have gone dormant, allowing the grass to conserve energy during colder, unfavorable weather conditions.

Similarly, this got me thinking of what can happen to us as believers.

Without looking to the Son as the source of our life and growth, we are susceptible to spiritual dormancy. The warmth of our fire for the Lord Jesus is what sustains us, brings us growth, peace, and nourishment. If that wanes, it will be replaced with a cold, survival mode of self-comfort, isolation and fictitious independence. We will become dry, brittle, and begin to wither. Ultimately, our growth is stunted. The new life we’ve been granted begins, instead, to stagnate.

 

Living Hope

Difficult seasons are a brisk reality in this life, but we are called to pursue growth in every season. We mustn’t retreat when trouble comes. Because of Jesus, we always have living hope.

Our faith is rooted in the foundational truth that Jesus—born of a virgin, became human and walked this earth we inhabit. He was sinless and perfect in all His ways.

Fulfilling prophesy and promises, He suffered and died a brutal, undeserved death, being raised three days later. All so that we could be redeemed and restored into right relationship with our Heavenly Father. Because of our Savior’s miraculous death and resurrection, we are graciously granted new life. This is the joy and hope we live with, and it should be something that remains in the forefront of our minds daily—not only at Easter, but in every season!

As we enjoy the beauty of Spring and the transformation that comes with this season, may our hearts be stirred to reflect on Jesus’ resurrection and the transformation that’s taken place in our lives because of His sacrifice. He died for you. He died for me. We were the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). That should ignite a fire in the depth of our soul!

 

Seek, Pray, Cling

We no longer live for ourselves. We no longer strive for our own way. We have been radically transformed, given a new life worth living because of His selfless sacrifice. Let the truth of that awaken and take fresh root in your heart again. Evaluate your relationship with Jesus to see if, and where, you’ve allowed spiritual dormancy to creep in.

Seek Him and pray. Cling to the profound hope that His resurrection brings, regardless of the seasons that you’ll walk through in this life.

He is right there with you, friend.

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. – I Peter 1:3