Look at humans, they are so varied and vain glorious that His creation could never be an accident. Then again, man sometimes acts like he came from the monkey or sometimes he behaves like a gorilla. The Delaware Indians believed that their ancestors began life as a woodchuck or groundhog.

After a long, cold winter I’m ready for a holiday. I’ll even take Groundhog Day. Some celebrate a make fools out of themselves with pomp and ceremony on Groundhog Day. They wait to see if Punxsutawney Phil, or some lesser known, groundhog comes out and sees his shadow. If he does, it means six more weeks of winter.

Superstition or not, I’m ready for spring. But perhaps we can learn some valuable lessons from Groundhog Day and the winter seasons of life.

First, be assured that spring will come. The winters of life may sometimes be cold and long, but God is faithful. David knew the winters of life but inspired by God, he exclaimed, “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
One day, being a little “blue”, I went into a fast food restaurant. A poet encouraged me with the following poem. The poem was posted on a board by the menu.
“We dream of a white Christmas,

And long for an early spring.
Our thoughts are of flowers and a gentle breeze.
But time passes quickly as we all know,
And you’ll wake up one morning
To the first signs of spring!”
- Anonymous

We need more poets in society to remind us that spring will come.

The second lesson Groundhog Day can teach us is that our need for grins, grit, and grace to make it through the winter.

I have a tendency toward cabin fever if confined indoors for too many days. Such was the case when we lived in South Dakota. A blizzard raged for three days. We couldn’t even get out of the house or to town for almost two weeks. I decided to make an elaborate dinner for our kids as my wife was out of state attending a prayer retreat. As sat down to eat, my children inquired, “Dad, everything looks great, but which is the mashed potatoes and which is the gravy?” We about fell out of our seats laughing. We ended up playing baseball inside with the overdone biscuits. “…He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast” (Proverbs 15:15). “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…” (Proverbs 17:22)

Winters can develop grit, endurance, and determination. Many hardy souls in the cold north seem to be healthier and sturdier than many people raised in milder climates. Some Native American tribes described their age by how many winters they survived. For the one who puts his trust in God, godly “grit” is developed in the winter seasons of life. (See I Peter 1:5-7.)

Paul the Apostle prayed for God’s deliverance from his winter. God’s answer was “My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9).

Third, seasons season us. Life is made up of seasons. King Solomon said, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die…a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) Winter winds make mighty oaks.

Fourth, we can have peace even in our winter seasons. A groundhog doesn’t fret and worry during the long winter. He sleeps and rests. Jesus says to you, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me…I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-4). Rest in Jesus. Just as sure as the spring will come and the sun will shine, so Jesus will come. Believe in Him. Be ready.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).