When God Brings New Life

Winter may feel cold and lifeless, but spring reminds us that God is always bringing new life to our stories.

Winter is known for its cold and lifeless landscape, a season where everything appears still and barren. Yet spring always follows - bringing warmth, fresh growth, and the reminder that new life is always possible. I always feel a sense of hope when I see the first flowers pushing their way through the ground during the transition from winter to spring. Those small blooms remind me that God is a God of new beginnings. No matter what we did in our past or how our last season went, He always offers us the chance to start again and grow. Just like the earth comes alive again in the spring, God delights in bringing new life into our own stories.

Wherever you find yourself in this life, know that God wants you to grow from what you've walked through. He will never have you walk through a challenging season just to leave you there. He wants you to grow from your experiences then use those experiences to help others. I've been learning this in my journey lately. Somewhat recently, God put some friends into my life that I feel I otherwise wouldn't have even made a connection with. As our relationships have grown, I've found that they've walked through similar experiences as I am now and have so much to share that helps me. It's amazing how God works, isn't it? This is how God wants to use whatever season we're walking through - good or bad. He wants to use us as a light in someone else's life. Someone who might need to hear about our own experiences and can grow from those stories.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Once you accept Jesus into your heart, you're a new creation in Him. All that stuff from the past has been erased and you're ready to start a new life in Christ. Sometimes, that's easier said than done. Yes, your past mistakes no longer matter, but that doesn't mean the enemy won't stop reminding you about them. He will use those reminders to discourage you and keep you from moving forward. If you don't move forward, you don't start growing. If you don't start growing, you won't step into the path God has paved for you. When the lies of the enemy are all you can hear, remember who has forgiven you for those past mistakes. Take a moment to pray and ask God for His peace - you can even reach out to some friends and ask them for encouragement, too. The way forward isn't always easy, but it's always worth it. The experience along the way is what helps you grow.

What happens if you don't grow from a season? Maybe you weren't happy with the way God had worked your situation out. I know, you're reading this wondering why anyone would be unhappy with God... But take a minute to think back - I'm sure you've had that feeling a time or two. I know I have. You know which Bible character immediately comes to my mind? Jonah. Famously, he's the one who had a message from the Lord to share with the Ninevites, yet chose to run as far away as he possibly could instead. God helped Jonah take a step back by sending a big fish to swallow him for three days and nights. When Jonah was out of the fish and back on track, he went to Nineveh and shared that message with them. They listened and turned their wrongs into rights. But do you know what happens next? You'd think Jonah would be happy for the Ninevites or proud of the fact he just saved an entire city from certain destruction, right? Wrong. Jonah was angry at God. He actually asked God to take his life because he would rather be dead than alive knowing that He gave Nineveh a second chance. Isn't that crazy? God brought Jonah on this big journey, saved him from his certain demise in that fish, and was with him as he delivered a hard message to a bad city. Yet, Jonah was upset because God kept His promise. You see how Jonah should have grown from this experience, don't you? But, instead, he chose to be angry at God for being merciful and compassionate.

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

To me, this seems like such a cliché verse that Christians always fall back on or quote. But the message is such a good reminder. One that I often could use myself. God already knows the plans that He has for us. It's not like one of those days you get into the car with no plans and just drive wherever the wind takes you, making your plan up along the way. God's plan was set for you long before you were born and is unchanging. Everything you'll experience in this life is a part of God's big plan for you - whether it seems like it or not. Like I mentioned earlier, He uses your experiences to help the people you'll meet throughout your journey on this earth. Ultimately, God uses our experiences for good. He will never put you through a difficult season just because you're not being a good person or you're not listening to Him. Once again, look at Jonah. Yes, he was swallowed by a big fish - but what came out of that? Jonah had a change of heart, took the initiative to obey God's directions, and saved an entire city. Your actions may determine the tone of certain seasons, but God will always find a way to use it for good. As the verse above says, God's plans are for good. They will give us a future and a hope.

I pray you'll remember that our God is a God of new beginnings. He's always ready to give you that chance to start again. Whatever season you're currently walking through is for a reason, and it will be used for good. If your season feels cold or uncertain right now, don’t lose heart. Just like winter never lasts forever, the difficult seasons in our lives are not the end of the story. God is always at work beneath the surface, preparing something new to grow in the right time. One day, you may look back and see how He used this very season to shape you, strengthen you, and place you exactly where you needed to be. So keep trusting Him. Keep moving forward one step at a time. The same God who brings new life to the earth each spring is the One who is faithfully bringing new life to your story as well.