We just got tons of snow! I could have gone sledding on my front porch, but I knew better. I didn’t! How do we usually respond when it snows? What I feel, and hear others express as well is how inconvenient it is: meaning we can’t go out, can’t go to work, shut in maybe for days with probability of power loss, and on and on! Occasionally though, some are glad for the opportunity to stay home from work.
First, do we realize snow is one of God’s gifts for which we need to be thankful? Although snow interrupts our lives in a way, let us look at what blessings it brings. Snow is completely out of our control (even though the Meteorologists sound like they control it); God makes it start when He wants, and makes it stop per His timetable. What if starts, but never stops? We’ll all be buried alive! This is one of the ways in which God demonstrates His power. Let’s be appreciative and bless His name! What a mighty God!
Second, snow is beautiful, no question about that! But in addition, because of snow, we can understand to some degree how clean the blood of Christ makes us. The Bible illustrates the cleansing of our sins this way, “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18 NLT). We’ve gone from our sins being red (scarlet) to as white as snow! Amazing, and that really means going from being sinners to righteous (as though we’ve never sinned). That miracle was David’s desire after his sin with Bathsheba. He prayed, “…wash me and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7 NLT). If you have snow, look outside, and be reminded of God’s grace and power to transform you. Your sins completely covered, and without a trace!
The snow, because of its associated problems, offers us the opportunity to express care and love for loved ones and neighbors. We check on each other to make sure all is well. My neighbors, Bob and Mary started cleaning my driveway before I got out of bed! Am I God’s princess or what! Before they cleaned, my brother, Tom and my son-in-law, Scott, have each offered to come and do that very thing. I feel so blessed! I also know many people have been recipients of such kindness. It is refreshing to experience kindness from neighbors in a world such ours.
Thank God for the snow; it really is a gift from above! He has a reason and purpose for everything He created, contrary to what we might think. Thank you, LORD, for the snow!