And Everything Turned Green

Many places looked like ghost towns the past six to eight weeks. Even in my town of Omaha, Nebraska, where the coronavirus impact has not been as great, traffic slowed and many businesses and churches temporarily closed their doors. So much around us seemed to have just stopped.

But did you notice something? When much of the man-made world hit the pause button, everything in the natural world turned green!

People stopped but nature did not. Spring still arrived. The birds, squirrels, bunnies, buds, and blossoms did not receive the word on social distancing. Dr. Anthony Fauci forgot to send them the memo and they burst forth to celebrate spring.

Some may say, “What’s the big deal? That’s only nature” But it means something greater. In our time of recluse God, in His faithfulness, brought spring.

When Noah left the ark in Genesis 8 and 9, God made several promises. He said in 8:22, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (NASB).” God promised that the seasons will continue and that the season of life will always return after winter. The coming of spring is a picture of God’s complete faithfulness.

Nothing says faithfulness like the coming of spring. After winter passes, the Sustainer of Life begins a new season of warmth. Spring is the season when new life comes out from the ground and the birds begin to sing again. God shows us He is faithful and trustworthy from the season of Spring.

God’s faithfulness transcends beyond nature. His faithfulness remains with us during this time and through each and every trial of life. God carries us through every one of our hard times. It does not matter the size or depth of our situation; God remains with us through it. His faithfulness does not allow Him to abandon us.

God does not want us to feel alone or afraid. And when we read His Word, we discover that He always and faithfully stays with us. In Deuteronomy 31:6 He says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NASB) And in Matthew 28 he says, “And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

God does not leave those who follow Him. Just like year after year He brings spring, day in and day out He stays faithfully with us.

This spring, just like the springs of the past, everything turned green. Nature keeps going because God upholds it and is faithful to His creation. If He is faithful to His creation, He is even more faithful to us. Psalm 36:6 says, “You preserve man and beast.” (NASB) God sustains us.

No doubt we live in a strange uncertain time. We do not know what lies ahead. But as you make your way through this uncertain time, look out your window or go for a walk. When you see that everything turned green, know that God is faithful.