THE WINTER ROSE
Beauty in Life's Hardest Seasons
“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.”
(Song of Solomon 2:11-12)
Good morning, dear friend. Let me share something precious the Lord has been showing me through a single red rose in my front yard. As autumn's leaves danced their final dance and winter's harsh breath swept across the land, this solitary rose stood defiant against the freezing temperatures, continuing to bloom with stubborn beauty.
Some might call it a coincidence, but oh, dear friend, I saw something far more profound – a love message from our sweet Master amid my winter season. Having faced two surgeries, the loss of sight in my right eye, and health crises that seemed to pile one upon another, this rose spoke of His faithful presence that refuses to bow to life's harsh seasons.
You see, beloved, just as that single rose bloomed despite winter's bite, Jesus, our Rose of Sharon, continues to bring beauty in the coldest seasons of our lives. When circumstances whisper that all is dead or dying, He stands as an ever-blooming testimony that beauty can defy the natural order of things.
Think of it – while other flowers surrendered to winter's demand, this rose remained, much like our precious Jesus who stays close when others may retreat. In your winter season, when health fails, when dreams seem frozen when hope feels buried under snow, the Rose of Sharon still blooms with undiminished beauty.
The heavenly Bridegroom speaks through this winter rose, declaring, "I am with you even here, even now." Can you hear His whisper through the cold winds of your circumstances? "Winter has passed, beloved. Behold, the spring rains are coming!" What blessed assurance that our current season, no matter how harsh, will not last forever.
Oh, precious one, He's holding you so close right now that He can feel your breath. In the darkness and cold of your winter night, He's bringing beauty that defies natural explanation. Your winter season is not just a time of loss and waiting – it's a showcase for His supernatural ability to bring forth life when everything speaks of death.
I, too, look forward to my spring season, when refreshing rains will fall, and God's glory will shine through every trial we've faced. But until then, I'm learning to see the beauty in winter itself—in the miracle of a rose that blooms against all odds, in the wonder of His presence that draws near when we need Him most.
Come, dear friend, look with new eyes at your winter season. Can you spot His beauty defying your circumstances? Can you see the Rose of Sharon blooming in what looks like a barren garden? He specializes in bringing forth beauty in the most unlikely seasons.
Will you trust Him in your winter? Will you let Him show you beauty you never expected to find in this season? When we learn to see with faith's eyes, every winter garden holds a miracle – a rose blooming out of season, a promise that spring is coming, a testimony that He never leaves us alone in the cold.
In the end, beloved, it's not about waiting for winter to pass—it's about discovering the One who brings beauty even in winter's depths. Let your heart be comforted today, for the Rose of Sharon blooms eternally, bringing heaven's beauty into earth's harshest seasons. And just as my winter rose stands as a sign and wonder of His nearness, may you, too, find His beauty blooming in unexpected places, a sweet reminder that you are never alone in your winter season.
With Love,
Steve Porter
Hidden Treasure: Intimate Devotions for the Spiritually Hungry by Steve Porter
The intimacy of those with sold-out, burning hearts become a pure fragrance to the Lord. How pleased He is when we worship Him with ALL our hearts, in no rush to leave. The Lord desires to give us Hidden Treasure (A deeper revelation of Himself). Instead of just head knowledge, He wants to provide us with an experiential and personal understanding of Himself and His character—a deeper revelation of His presence and who He is as well as revealing His very glory. He will reveal himself to hungry hearts and will take us into the secret of the stairs (Song of Solomon 2:14). The stairs signify our ascent toward Him level by level as He calls his bride up into a higher realm of intimacy with Him, beyond the limited experience of our past. He is calling His bride to arise and come away (Song of Solomon 2: 13). As we ascend the stairs, we are being weaned away from just the blessings and giftings to a greater dependency upon Him alone. He is giving His Bride Hidden treasure from the throne. Will you go? Rise up into the chambers of the Lord, for He is calling you up the stairs. He bids you come. These intimate devotions are not for the faint of heart! Steve Porter is the founder of Refuge Ministries. He has written many books and has a special anointing to bring forth the deep truths of the Spirit with a clarity and simplicity that draws one into a closer walk and a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Steve's books, tracts, articles, and videos have touched countless lives around the world.
Beautifully written.