Welcoming Fake Spring
Encourage My Hope Monthly(ish) Newsletter No. 8
Here in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, we are currently experiencing what many refer to as “Fake Spring.”
After a particularly snowy and cold winter, in which the sky was almost always gray and the ground always white, the sun has graced us with its presence over the last few days bringing warmth, fresh air, and blue skies.
But, having lived in this area for the vast majority of my life, I am cautious not to be taken in by what I know to be the “fool’s gold” equivalent of spring. I am certain we have not seen the last of winter and before warm and sunny days come to take up permanent residence here, winter will likely rear its ugly head at least one more time.
That’s life here in the Allegheny Mountain range. Not only have I come to expect it, but I’ve actually learned to appreciate it.
As much as I love sunshine and blue skies, I am a four-season girl at heart. My favorite season is whatever one we’re currently in or transitioning into. At the end of summer, I am excited for warm sweaters, knee-high socks, and autumn campfires. I feel a thrill at the first snowfall of the season and gape open-mouthed as snow-covered trees pass by my car window. The same holds true for both spring and summer.
But there is something particularly captivating about spring. The days last longer, the air seems fresher and lighter, and stepping out into the sunshine for the first time in months feels like a heavy burden lifting. It’s almost as though I’ve been holding my breath all winter, but when spring finally makes its appearance, I can breathe again.
After decades of living in the Laurel Highlands, I’ve finally discovered what it is that makes spring feel so utterly delightful. And the answer might surprise you.
It’s winter. Winter is what makes spring so lovely.
The sweetness of spring is born out of the harshness of winter. In fact, the harsher and longer the winter, the sweeter the spring that follows.
The harsher the winter, the sweeter the spring.
I suspect that the areas of the world that don’t experience snowy winters have never quite felt that same sheer delight that comes when the first warm day breaks a long cold spell. You must taste the bitterness of winter to fully experience the utter deliciousness of spring.
The same can be said of the Christian life. We live for an eternal spring, when suffering will be no more, death will be reversed, and God himself will wipe away every tear. Until then, we soldier on through the long, dark wintery days of ordinary life, waiting and longing for that first day of sunshine.
Not that our lives in the here and now are completely devoid of sunshine and warmth. We too experience fake springs in our walk with Christ: quick peeks of the glory to come, the partial fulfillment of eternal promises, glimpses of days when suffering will be no more. These fake springs give us the hope and strength we need to press on through the wintry storms of life.
So even if snow should fall between now and the start of real spring (and it probably will), these warm and sunny days of fake spring have given me a welcome glimpse of what is to come.
And when spring arrives, as it always does, it will be that much sweeter for having endured the harshness of a long winter.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison
2 Corinthians 4:17
Some New Things at Encourage My Hope
If you’ve spent any time on my substack page, you may have noticed a few new additions to my main menu.
I’m slowly transitioning my blog over to Substack (it makes the most sense for my work as a writer and Bible teacher). Soon, typing encouragemyhope.com into your browser will bring you to my Substack site, rather than to my own self-hosted website. Putting all my work on substack frees me up to focus on what I love doing the most: writing, speaking, and teaching about God and his Word.
Because of this transition, I will be shutting down my library of free printable resources sometime in the coming weeks. The library is currently completely open (you don’t even need a password to enter it!), so make sure you grab all the resources you want before I close down my blog. Click the button below to go there now!
But never fear! I will still be creating Bible study workbooks and printable resources as well as revamping some of the printables that are currently in my free resource library. You can check out all the resources that are currently available in my Books and Resources tab in the menu at the top of my Substack page. Or click the link below (don’t miss the NEW free download at the bottom of the page!).
To assign appropriate value to my work and make sure I’m treating the work of other writers and creators fairly, most of the printables I create will be reserved for paid subscribers only. If you are a paid subscriber, you can access your free printables in the Paid Subscriber Goodies tab linked below.
But I have not forgotten you, my free subscriber friends! I greatly appreciate your support and loyalty. As a thank-you for subscribing, all free subscribers will receive a printable 13-page Inductive Bible Study Worksheet Pack to help you in your personal Bible Study endeavors.
If you are already a subscriber, you can grab the worksheets here.
If you are not a subscriber, enter your email below to have the Bible Study Worksheets delivered to your inbox.
Develop A Bible Reading Habit That Lasts!
Lastly, this is the time of year that the Bible reading habits we started in January tend to succumb to the business of the spring season. Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some posts about developing (or reviving) a Bible-reading habit that lasts. So stay tuned!
As always, thank you for your loyalty and support!
May your hope in Christ be greatly encouraged in the days to come!
