Snow in July … Now THAT is something that Canadians don’t want to hear! After living with the fact that our winters never respect their three-month boundaries, with it being possible to experience snow right into the middle part of May, depending on where you are located, Canadians love their summers. As July rolls around, many own cottages and weekends find many city dwellers headed for the lake country to fish and swim and enjoy the great outdoors. Snow is the last thing any Canadian wants to see in July!

There are some of you reading this who can’t relate to winter snows, for you live in climates where the snow never falls. However, everyone reading this can relate to the idea of winter seasons of life; that dreaded time when just like winter snows, troubles overwhelm you, inundating you with problems that you can’t climb out of. When your valley of problems finally draws to an end, then just like Canadians in July don’t want to see snow, the last thing you want to see is more problems!

It was early in July last year. While we were out for a walk with our dog, my wife pointed out what looked for all the world like a patch of snow. It blanketed the ground in a brilliant white, forming a large white circle underneath a tree. “Look!” exclaimed my wife. “It’s snow!”

Of course, that wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear either …

As we approached the tree, however, something became apparent: The ground wasn’t blanketed in snow; rather the tree, which was a Catalpa tree, had dropped all of its white blossoms all at once, forming what looked from the distance to be a white carpet of snow. In reality, however, each of those fallen flower blossoms were not pure white. Rather, they boasted beautiful, delicate red lines down their throat. They were truly a thing of beauty.

The same can be said for each tiny snowflake. Each one is a thing of beauty, and to take this a step farther, if you look back on the problems that make up the winter season of your life, you might also see that God has made something beautiful out of them. Not that God bring on problems; however, He knows how to use them to His glory: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

Have you been through a recent batch of trials? I challenge you to ask God to reveal to you the good He has worked out of your problems. Maybe it is some patching up on your character. Maybe through the problems He has helped you learn to be more patient or more responsible. Maybe He has worked something else to His glory.

When my mother died in Belgium 7 years ago, it was definitely a winter time of life. Yet God was busy working good into the situation. He guided us in advance so that we could take time off work at just the right time to fly to Belgium to see her before she went to be with Jesus. She passed away while we were still there. In fact, we were with her, holding her hands, and we were able to stay for her funeral. I will always thank God for giving me those last two days with my mom, and for working it out that we only had to make one trip to Belgium from Canada.

Many years earlier, after a long battle with cancer, my father died. I was having trouble finding anything beautiful at all in his death. One day I had this dream. I dreamed my dad was alive. He was sitting beside me on a bus. Of course I was excited, but when I looked out the window of the bus, I saw my mom, struggling down the street under a very heavy burden; one that was so heavy she almost stumbled and fell several times. I glanced up at my dad and he smiled. “That’s why I had to go,” he said. And I realized then that if my dad hadn’t gone to be with Jesus when he did, I might have lost both parents at the same time.

When my wife had cancer, it was a time to grow my faith. When we were hit by a deer, nearly totaling our brand new car, we saw how God had been at work protecting each member of the family in the car. When my kids lost their pet bird, God used the situation to bless many across the world with the message that God cares about our pets even more than we do.

I could go on, but the point is: Just like looking closely at each of those Catalpa flower revealed a thing of delicate beauty, God works things of delicate beauty into our trials. Just ask Him! He will show you!

Inspired by Rob Chaffart
Director, Answer2Prayer Ministries