I’ve noticed lately that hope seems to spring up in the least likely spaces. Or maybe at that moment when I’m looking in another direction? Do you know what I mean?

The ground has been covered in snow. Well to be fair, the ground was covered and uncovered repeatedly since November of last year. I’ve had my eyes so focused on the sky, amount of light, color of blue or lack of blue for so long now that I haven’t looked down. I haven’t inspected the wintered-over flower beds.

Voila! Today is a new day and spring is beginning to do it’s thing. Hurrah! When I wasn’t looking the daffodils began their ascent to sing their cheery yellow praises to their Creator.

That’s the same thing that happens in other areas of life. There are circumstances and people whom I’ve been praying over for some time now. Many of those are stamped in semi-permanent ink in my open prayer journal. Frankly I can get pretty discouraged with a lack of movement or change.

It sometimes feels like God doesn’t care about the people I care about, however I know that is not at all the truth. The truth comes to me in Isaiah 55:9. It reminds me that I no more easily reach the heavens from where I stand than I can know what God’s plans are. His ways, His timing, His ideas, they are all far above my “pay grade”. I can fool myself into thinking I know what’s happening, what, when, and with whom, but I need to instead trust in God’s ways.

AND keep my eyes open to the things that He is working on.

AND celebrate the hope that comes with signs of life, signs of growth, and the new thing God is working on. God will work out His will and plan for all of the things on my long list, I just have to faithfully wait for the signs of spring.