Storehouses of Snow

Currently snow blankets more than half the continental U.S. An arctic blast has crept down from Canada, and found its way even into Florida. Residents of Tampa may soon see flurries and folks in Miami must bundle up with high temperatures only in the 50’s.

In North Carolina we soon hope to see some white flakes, perhaps even this evening. With excitement at the prospect, I find my thoughts recalling God’s words to Job, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, of have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of war and battle” (38:22, 23)? I confess, I have prayed this morning for God to open His storehouse of snow and let it mount up! Now I don’t want the time of distress of which He speaks. Instead, when I think of snow, I picture building snowmen, making snow angels, and sledding down white hills. A fun day complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows.

As I hope for snow, though, I can’t help but think of the implications of God storing up snow. He says He has put them away for a reason, for the day of war and battle. The point of this blog isn’t to discuss what the day of distress entails, but rather to highlight the fact that God has a plan for snow. Snow. Those flakes that fall from the sky, cover cars, and get kids out of school for a day or two. God has something in mind for these ice crystals.

And if He has a goal in mind for snow, then surely He has plans for us. If He cares about the use of tiny flakes, imagine then His concern for human beings, for those He made in His image and redeemed by the sacrificial death of His Son.

Today as I read the Winter Weather Advisories posted by The Weather Channel, I think of the plans God wrote down for me before I breathed my first breath (Ps 139:16). The Spirit too reminds me of Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, now reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they" (Matt 6:26)? If God cares so much for birds and snow, how much more will He care and plan each of our lives?

So if you find yourself wondering if God cares about you or is working out His plans for your life, this winter take courage. As God has created each flurry and has plans for it, He has created you and has plans for you. As Paul says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10).