Winter’s Lessons: Growing Stronger Through the Cold Seasons

Life’s hardest seasons can often feel cold, lonely, and barren. Yet Winter’s lessons remind us that beneath every hardship, God is growing something strong, beautiful, and full of promise for the season ahead.

Hardships don’t just happen; they’re designed to help you.

In winter, things often look dead, but they’re not. When the season changes and spring comes, suddenly everything that appeared dead begins to bloom and come to life again. And, amazingly, everything looks bigger, stronger, and healthier than it did before the winter.

There’s a reason God brings you through difficult circumstances in life. Your times of adversity are designed …

To test and refine you. Job testifies about this: “He knows the way I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold” (Job 23:10).

And Paul tells us: “We do not lose heart … for this light, momentary, affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:16–17).

Don’t lose heart today! You will come out of your winter season shining like gold!

To mold your character into the image of Christ. Peter writes that each of us will experience some degree of suffering as we follow Christ: “For to this you have been because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). And Paul reminds us that God’s grand purpose for our lives is to make us “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29).

God is aware of your difficult situations, and He wants to work them all together for your good as you seek His purposes (Romans 8:28).

To deepen your spiritual roots. Having deeper roots will help you withstand the storms of life (Luke 6:47–48) and bear more fruit for God’s Kingdom. Solomon writes in Proverbs 12 that “the root of the righteous will never be moved” (v. 3) and “the root of the righteous bears fruit” (v. 12).

Those with deep spiritual roots recognize their dependency on the Holy Spirit, and this is something almost always gained during times of testing. If you never had any difficulties, you would never have anything to overcome. And how would you realize your need for the Lord’s help if you never had a problem? You’d be tempted to rely on your own strength and self-sufficiency.

To fill you with greater compassion in ministering to others. Paul explains this:

The Father of mercies and God of all comfort … comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).

Sometimes God allows tough circumstances in your life to show you and those around you His faithfulness and goodness. The lessons you learn during your winter seasons can be a powerful tool to minister to others during their difficult seasons.

God allows your adversities and winter experiences for your good! They are meant to help you mature and become like Christ.

Scriptures to meditate on this month:

Week One
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Week Two
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 41:1

Week Three
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

Week Four
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 

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Don’t waste your winter—grow through it. Discover tools to strengthen your faith at the Spiritual Growth Hub.