There is promise in the winter

"I can see the promise

I can see the future

You're the God of seasons

I'm just in the winter

If all I know of harvest

Is that it's worth my patience

Then if You're not done working

God I'm not done waiting

You can see my promise

Even in the winter …"

These are the lyrics of the song Seasons by Hillsong Worship that have spoken into the dry, broken parts of my heart this year. When I can't find the strength to speak, I worship to a God who is bigger than my loudest sighs, and these are the words of truth that have brought my burned out heart back to life.

Something that I've been learning this past year is that God is a God of faithfulness and patience. There were times where I was just sick and tired of waiting. Ever been there? I was fed up with being stuck in this season of uncertainty and brokenness. I was kind of mad at God, and I learned in this season that it's okay to be mad at Him.

God can handle all our anger, impatience and even doubt. He handles our scary places and the parts of us that we don't want to be seen and takes them safely into His arms. He already knows when we are struggling to hold on; that's why He holds on tighter.

In the midst of my waiting and struggling with knowing if God is even holding on to me, I was reminded of the truth of who He really is, despite my circumstances. This unwavering truth is that no matter my circumstances I am able to rest in the knowledge that He knows what He's doing even when I don't. I can breathe and know that He is in control of the things that I have no control over, and even when I don't always know this truth in my heart, I know that God is still always patient, kind, slow to anger, full of peace and always gives joy in the morning.

So friends, men, and women, if you're in a season where you feel hopeless, know that it's okay to be upset. Our hopeless doesn't put a roadblock in God's plan for us, we're not that powerful. God is bigger than the "what ifs" of our lives. Friends, know that He's always intricately working out the small details of your life that you can't quite see yet, and preparing for the time he draws you out of the waters and fills you with new hope and joy. He is a God of patience, and will never leave us in our season winter.

Take heart in this, for He has overcome the world so He can draw near to yours. There is promise in the winter, and there is spring right around the corner. He holds the whole world in His hands, and that includes you too.