Springing forward

I am not a runner, not even by the most loose interpretation of that, but if the last 12 months were compared to something it could have been a marathon. We recently celebrated our first-year anniversary as a family. As I ponder on what has transpire, can’t help but feel so much has gone on but at the same time get the feeling much is yet to be accomplished. I am tempted to think we have not advanced to become more like a family and in part to blame myself for not doing better. But I stop and consider God. If He had not been with me all along NOTHING would have been good in any of these past few months. As I looked back, I can only say it’s His Spirit that reminded me of His Word…. “it now springs forth…”(Is. 43:19) and it did and not only did He bring it all about but has sustained us this whole year. Therefore, even though I feel like sulking back, I want to spring forward to what God would have for us this next year together. Please keep us in your prayers. I need God’s wisdom and discernment even more than I can express.

When typing the title for this blog, I realized our anniversary was practically when spring began. Can’t help but smile to think on God-coincidences. It’s so easy to forget things you learn or experience after time passes. One of them for me was God’s way of doing things so literal sometimes. The word spring, just kind of sprang on me as I began to write this. So, venture with me on this.

I decided to see the definition of spring.

1a(1): DART, SHOOT
(2): to be resilient or elastic also: to move by elastic force; 2: to issue with speed and force or as a stream; 3a: to grow as a plant; b: to issue by birth or descent; c: to come into being: ARISE
d. archaic : DAWN; e: to begin to blow —used with up; 4a: to make a leap or series of leaps
b: to leap or jump up suddenly; 5: to stretch out in height : RISE
6: PAY —used with for; transitive verb
1: to cause to spring; 2a: to undergo or bring about the splitting or cracking of ; b: to undergo the opening of (a leak); 3a: to cause to operate suddenly; 4: to leap over; 5: to produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; 6: to make lame; 7: to release or cause to be released from confinement or custody
noun, often attributive
Definition of spring (Entry 2 of 3)
1a: a source of supply especially: a source of water issuing from the ground; b: an ultimate source especially of action or motion; 2: SPRING TIDE
3: a time or season of growth or development specifically : the season between winter and summer comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of March, April, and May or as reckoned astronomically extending from the March equinox to the June solstice
4: an elastic body or device that recovers its original shape when released after being distorted
5a: the act or an instance of leaping up or forward

Leave it to me to stop writing and then come back and loose my train of thought! The following morning after trying to come back to finish this blog, during my devotional, I read Psalm 20. To bring into perspective what I am about to share, I had been struggling with how to guide and discipline my kids. And just as I mentioned at the beginning, I felt like shrinking back. So as I pondered about all the meanings of “spring” when I read the following verse it helped my heart and soul to have a renewed hope.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.
Psalm 20:7-8

When I read the word “rise”, I was reminded of one the definitions of “spring” being arise, and to leap or jump up. It really spoke to my heart on that it is in trusting in God can we rise and stand upright. So, amid it all we continue to trust in the name of the Lord and know that what will spring forth will be a glorious, amazing work of God. He is the God that makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert! Can’t wait to rejoice when my eyes shall see it and live it!

And to confirm even more, guess what I read this morning…

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
    the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
²it shall blossom abundantly
    and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
    the majesty of our God.
³Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
⁴Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”
Isaiah 35:1-4