The long nights of winter feel dark and barren. And it’s tempting to assume things will always be this way. But it’s often in this darkness of night that seeds of hope are planted – a hidden dawn that’s closer than it appears.
While we like to see and understand everything as it happens, God often works under the cover of night. There’s a move of the Spirit that doesn’t come with fanfare, but like a quiet conception in the dark there’s a shift toward dawn while it is still night.
This might be a calling we keep close to our hearts for now. And even though there’s nothing different on the outside, we cannot deny the vision God has given us – knowing it will soon change everything.
Our darkest night in marriage, when we most feel like giving up, is often the point when true love is finally conceived. What seems dead on the surface is actually growing roots strong enough to bear real fruit later.
Likewise, while we’re waiting for doors to open and wondering why God is taking so long to act, he is likely expanding our capacity to wield our strength well. What feels like a wasted season is God preparing us for greater.
Time and again, Christ is born lowly in a manger and not yet herald for all the world to see. And this is often the path God has us to follow as well. In time the brightness of dawn will be undeniable. But first we must keep watch throughout the night. This is an act of faith, trusting God is already at work even when we cannot yet see.
In the end, endure the long winter nights, as these are holy nights. God has already conceived new life even though you don’t see it yet. And this hidden dawn will be revealed in full at just the right time.
