The Fragrance of Winter

Hello All,

Can you sense fragrance in the stench of despair? Can you see the good in the bad? Can you see God’s love behind the atrocities of life?

There are many sorrows and tragedies that we may not be able to come to terms with. It’s all too natural to question God’s goodness in the pit of suffering and pain.

We may not have any answers to the brokenness of this life. But God has the answers, though He may not reveal them to us in this life. His ways are higher than ours and He can see what we can’t.

The Fragrance of Winter

By Joanne Liaw Sook Ling (9 November 2017)

The fragrance of winter is in the air

Elegant snow is falling everywhere

Where does fragrance come from in this season?

The trees are bare; the flowers have fallen

The fragrance of winter is in the air

There’s beauty in the winter of despair

The sweet fragrance comes from the ground below

Do you see blue flowers beneath the snow?

The fragrance of winter is in the air

God gives hope in the winter of despair

Can you smell the lovely fragrance of myrrh?

It issues from the tomb before Easter

The fragrance of winter is in the air

God’s grace lifts us from the tomb of despair

The fragrance of the Cross is shared with all

Who believe in Jesus after the Fall

The fragrance of winter is in the air

Spring comes after the winter of despair

There will be a day when all is made new

When stale rivers become fresh morning dew

Points for Reflection:

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

(Revelation 21:4 ESV)

·       Despite our questions and maybe even anger at the unfairness of life, we can draw comfort from God’s sacrificial love shown through the death of Jesus Christ.

·       We may not understand the purpose behind our pain, but we have a God who has gone through excruciating pain to save us from the hell of eternal torment. He knows your pain. He knows my pain. He knows our pain.

·       The suffering that we may be facing now is truly hard to endure but it will not last forever. For those who trust in Jesus Christ, we can look forward to the day when we see God in heaven.

·       Heaven is a joyful place with no tears. It is a place where broken relationships will be made whole. It is a place where we can enjoy being with God and His people forever. Do you long for that day? I know I do.

·       The fragrance of winter is in the air. Spring comes after the winter of despair. There will be a day when all is made new; when stale rivers become fresh morning dew.