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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

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Hope for the Hard Days


Air-conditioning blasted through dusty moving van vents as we pulled away from our southern roots, yet the farther north we drove, the more those vents burned high with heat.

Our choice of sandals and shorts proved naive, as 1300 miles later, our new city welcomed us to a sky-show greeting the likes of which we’d never known: snow flurry confetti tumbling gently in the breeze.

During those early days of northern life, I devoted many an hour to my favorite new past-time: watching fresh snow fall from the heavens, drifting in peaceful purpose, as if called for calm by its Maker.

And it didn’t disappoint.

Until that day in May, six months later.

Arriving early to gather my kids from school, I lingered in the waning moments of quiet, when to my southern-born surprise, fluffy fat drops, clothed in white, danced playfully along my windshield.

Seriously? Is spring not a thing around these parts? I wondered.

Thinking back to that chilly afternoon of yesteryear, I smile. For though it’s now another place and time, here I sit again—captivated, as delicate snow puffs catch in the wind this early spring day.

Soft beauty elegantly falling, in the “wrong” season.

And yet, there’s something about snow that makes me want to forgive it; even when it pushes the boundaries of its season, I’m charmed by its grace.

Beauty is relentless like that, isn’t it? Always adapting to its surroundings; never intimidated by the unpredictability of a broken world; showering grace into the most unexpected of moments.

I ponder how nature sometimes mirrors life—reflecting the “winters” of discomfort, hardship, or pain that have lingered too long, pushing the boundaries of their seasons, leaving us craving the warmth of relief.

Sweet friend, does this ring familiar for you? Are you trudging through trials that seem to continue long past their seasons?

It’s sometimes hard to notice through the haze of exhaustion, but in these times of relying on God amidst the struggle, we’re living the truth of Jeremiah 17:7, “…blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.”

His very essence is our every hope! Tweet This

For every drawn-out season when we thought for sure we’d be past this by now—His strength and mercy are our hope; His character and power, our confidence.

The God who plans our paths is faithful to bless our trust. And though we may not always sense this blessing in the moment—our trust isn’t in the understanding of our circumstances, but in the faithfulness of our God who makes all things beautiful in their time.

So, may we quiet our anxious timetables and trust His pace as we wait for the snow to melt amid the seemingly unending winters of life. In this place of trust, beauty abides. Beauty in the relief of surrender…in the stability of hope…in the promise of blessing.

Looking out my window, I can spy the barely visible green of blossoms pressing up against lacy white snow—two seasons converging. The long winter of pain, bumping up against the comforting spring of relief. Beauty beneath the surface, greeting beauty in the light—beauty upon beauty; both submissive to their parts of the story.

And it looks a lot like hope.

How are you finding hope and beauty amidst life’s hardships, friend? We’d love for you to join the conversation over at Proverbs 31 Ministries today! ♥

 

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Comments

  1. Janice Lawrence says

    May 14, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    Just took a moment to read this…so beautiful, Brenda! I love how the spiritual mirrors the natural in many ways. HOPE is a wonderful conclusion.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      May 14, 2020 at 3:15 pm

      God knows how to get our attention, doesn’t He, Janice? 🙂 Thank you for dropping by and reading, my friend. ♥

      Reply

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Many a time in life I’ve felt I was standing at Many a time in life I’ve felt I was standing at the edge of a sea, hemmed in by its boundary, unable to discern a path forward.
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God has not misplaced His plan for your life.
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Oh friend, may you rest quietly before your God at the water’s edge, trusting Him to bring you to a place of abundance.
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The mighty waters of your circumstances are no match for His power, His heart, His purpose.
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You’re not alone, for He goes before you, ordering unique pathways along His timeline—all for you, my friend.
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Friend, no matter what you’ve been through…hea Friend, no matter what you’ve been through…healing isn’t hopeless.
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So often it can feel easier to tamp hurt upon hurt deep into our spirits, than to do a new thing.
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But, friend, our God is a God of fresh beginnings who makes pathways through the wilderness and steams in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)
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You don’t walk alone, for His kindness and faithfulness walk with you through it all.
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This book _Good Boundaries and Goodbyes_ by @lysaterkeurst is a beautifully honest resource for learning to understand & create healthy, Godly boundaries in our lives.
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About 5-6 years ago I started doing this thing tha About 5-6 years ago I started doing this thing that, at the time, didn’t feel like anything radical or life-changing.
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I simply started trying to stop eating around 7pm, and not start eating again until 11am.
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At the time, I’d never even heard the term “intermittent fasting;” I was just trying this new-to-me thing to help with weight management.
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Over time, I learned that what I was doing was called intermittent fasting, and that it has health benefits well beyond the weight management realm.
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I’m not gonna lie, back when I started, 7pm to 11am was hard! It took some time, and I didn’t always do it “perfectly.”
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These days, I typically go from 6-7pm to 1-2pm. My body has adapted and most days it’s very easy. Often, I’d fast longer except that I take supplements that keep me awake at night if I take them too late in the day.
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Yes, I came to intermittent fasting for the weight loss. (30 pounds has long been gone.) But, I stay because I’ve never felt better. Allowing my body the restorative time each day has been a game-changer for me.
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I’m no doctor. I’m not medically advising. I’m just a girl who has always longed to make a difference, so I share in hopes of helping.
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No matter what your goals are this year, whether they’re health or relational or work related, it’s okay to go slow. It’s okay to get off track by January 10th and start over again.
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All is progress, my friend. Baby steps count. 💕
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As I sit here, now seven days into being sick, I s As I sit here, now seven days into being sick, I search for words of hope and inspiration to meet us here on this beautiful fresh ground called 2023.
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