Let Winter Do Its Work by Celina Mina
“Denmark only had ten hours of sunshine last December.”
I’m an Aussie woman living in Denmark. My friend (who was at the beach in Sydney) was horrified when I shared this weather update with her via our WhatsApp chat.
After nine years of living in this part of the world, I’m used to the seemingly never-ending gray that fills the sky during this time of the year. However, I’m also deeply aware that this is a time of the notorious “winter blues” in which the dark and cold can take their toll on so many people.
During winter, we can find ourselves drifting into auto-pilot, waiting for the warmer months to arrive. Even if you’re reading this from the Southern Hemisphere and are currently in summer, “survival mode” may still resonate with how you’re doing on the inside.
Winter seasons happen to us all. Times of challenge. Times when all seems dark. Times of loneliness. Times when it seems like nothing is changing or growing. Winter seasons of the soul. Can you relate to this? Whenever I feel that I’m in a “winter”, I remind myself of these two things:
Winter is part of God's creation:
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter. (Psalm 74:17 NIV)
Winter is part of God's covenant:
As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. (Genesis 8:22 NIV)
Here are four invitations that I believe winter seasons extend to each of us.
- An Invitation to Draw Closer
One winter several years ago, when I was working as a teacher at a school, I went out into the playground during break time and saw all the children standing in huddles, very close together, to keep warm.
We do this instinctively, don’t we? When it’s cold, we draw close to sources of warmth—other people, a fireplace, a blanket. What I find interesting is that when we are going through a winter season of the soul—when things are hard, challenging, and painful—we seem to do the opposite; we tend to withdraw, isolate ourselves, and stay away from others.
Maybe it’s because we’re worried about what people will think of us and our circumstances. Perhaps it’s pride—we want people to think we always have it together and don’t like to admit struggles and weaknesses. Maybe it’s independence—we want to stay in control and work things out for ourselves because we don’t want to depend on someone else.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:8a NIV)
God is our source of warmth when our soul is facing winter. We need to draw close even when everything within us is wanting to stay away. Winter is an invitation to establish spiritual disciplines.
- An Invitation to Go Deeper
There’s something so beautiful and special about a “White Christmas”. Because it’s so cold outside, it’s all about opening our homes and inviting people inside—to celebrate and connect.
That’s why I think the past two years have been so difficult for so many. Due to lockdowns and restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we haven’t been able to gather in the ways we are used to. It’s been very lonely for many people.
Winter seasons of the soul can feel lonely. We often think that nobody else understands what we’re going through. It’s a lie that the enemy would love for you to believe to prevent you from experiencing something that helps us during winter: fellowship.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15 NIV)
We all need a community of other believers who we are genuinely doing life with. Winter is an invitation to deepen relationships. Allow people to see you as you really are in this season. Not just your strengths, but your weaknesses also. There is power in experiencing fellowship in which people are not just rejoicing with you in the good times, but mourning with you during the bad times. Who knows—perhaps, out of your current winter, some of your most precious relationships will emerge.
- An Invitation to Grow Stronger
In Denmark, there is a saying that goes like this: “There’s no such thing has bad weather, just the wrong clothing!” Times of challenge, hardship, and pain can feel so harsh—like your soul is being battered by stormy winds, torrential rain, and freezing temperatures all at once. It’s not fun at all! And I’m so sorry if you are facing a winter season right now in an area of your life.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:2-5 NIV)
This may be hard to read, but while we often focus more on external circumstances, God is more focused on what’s happening on the inside of us. Winter is an invitation to persevere through challenges and wait patiently for change.
The stormy winds will soon come to an end. The torrential rains will cease. The freezing temperatures will warm up again. Keep on going. Allow your character to be strengthened so you can step into the next season ready for whatever God has in store for you!
- An Invitation to Shine Brighter
During winter, when I happen to be walking outside in the evening, I love looking up at the apartment buildings and houses around me, seeing all the lamps turned on and the candles lit on people’s windowsills.
Winter seasons of the soul can feel dark at times. Whenever I’m going through a tough time or struggling in an area of my life, it can be easy to feel like I’m in no position to be of any help to someone else.
Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 TPT)
I really want you to know that even when you find yourself in a winter season on the inside, you can still be a shining light for someone else. Winter is an invitation to bring hope to others. What brings hope to people is not watching someone live a perfect life, but watching a person live an imperfect life while trusting in a perfect God.
Shine in the darkness. Your winter season will be used to encourage someone else. It’s not all in vain. Winter comes to an end at the right time and the story that you will have at the end of this season is going to be a bright, shining light that causes others to see Jesus.
We can “welcome winter” and embrace this season when we realize that winter plays a vital role in our spiritual, emotional, and character development. Let winter do its work!
Celina Mina is a teacher, speaker, and writer, who loves helping people apply biblical principles to everyday living. She regularly preaches and teaches at her local church during Sunday services and other church events. Celina is a gifted communicator known for the way she unpacks Scripture and weaves personal stories into her messages to illustrate the relevance and power of the Bible in all areas of life.