Don’t Despair, Look Outside for the Good News!

Posted by: Jenny Baker, Content Writer & Communications Coordinator | Monday, April 21st, 2025 (12:00am)

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) — Ephesians 2:4-5

I don’t know about you, but this time of year – this space between winter and spring – can begin to feel empty and shrouded in despair. It’s hard to be inspired day to day when the color palette of the surroundings is “gray” with a side of “grayer.” Even the occasional blue sky can’t seem to penetrate the seasonal blahs driven by the lifeless landscape.

Except, it’s not lifeless, is it?

In fact, it’s full of hope. No, it’s more than that. It’s full of Good News! If I’d just take a moment to look – really look – I’d have no problem seeing it.

See, God has a clever way of planting clues about Him all around us, but most of the time we fail to notice them. While we have special revelation given to us through God’s Word in the Bible, He also reveals many of His promises through the created world around us.

What occurs in nature this time of year is one of God’s great metaphors for the Easter story. If we look around, what do we see? Withered, ashen grass pressed flatly against the earth. Skeletal branches on the trees are bare and vulnerable and without protection. Bent and broken stalks with flower heads dry and empty of their crown of petals.

In other words, everything appears…dead.

But wait, what is that? That tiny green shoot emerging from its former shell of nothingness will soon become a bright yellow daffodil. And those little buds that seemed to emerge out of nowhere on that tree outside? Give it a few weeks and a cloak of leaves will uncurl from their winter slumber. Soon, the ground will be painted with a palette of lush green that was seemingly brushed on overnight.

We thought everything was dead, but now we see that it’s suddenly fully, and beautifully brought back to life!

Sounds a lot like the story of Jesus, doesn’t it? After he was hung on the cross and died, his followers felt empty and shrouded in despair. The world lost its color, and they felt all hope was gone as the stone was rolled in front of the tomb.

But death did not have the last word. God did. And three days later, just like winter into spring, Jesus was once again fully and beautifully brought back to life!

In fact, when we follow Jesus, we too will one day be restored to what we were always meant to be. Even though circumstances in our lives can sometimes feel withered and ashen…despite being bare and vulnerable to sin…even knowing we are broken and empty of goodness…Jesus can and will redeem and restore us to life. This is the promise Jesus has given to all of us! Even the created world declares God’s glory by sending us a reminder of this Good News every spring season. We need only to look out the window to see it.

He is risen! He is risen, indeed! And one day, through Jesus, so will we!

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