There is a distinctiveness to the fall … stunning colors of every shade and hue highlight the trees and bushes in most locales. People venture out and travel long distances to stand in awe of the array of vibrant leaves bursting forth from the hills, meadows, and valleys. Yet, even in the celebratory, there is a sense of a season passing away and a certain impending dread starting to well up in most people with winter approaching. Soon most trees and their branches exhibit a stark barrenness, and hardly anyone appreciates the tiny buds of promise lining the dull twigs on every tree and bush.
Here is the unnoticed reality; every branch has many buds and every bud contains the beginnings of a leaf, shoot, or flower. The richness of the sun and rain has been stored up and the new life within, heads into the bleakest of seasons, full of the promise that life will come again. It is the same with faith. God through Christ has poured out His grace, provision, and love into our lives and there are seasons of intense beauty and color when His presence and bounty are as evident as the beautiful leaves of fall. Possibly in a greater way are the buds of His promises for the future that line the branches of our lives after the leaves and color have faded away. The richness of His presence has been stored up in our souls and His new life within us can take us through into the bleakest of seasons because His promises are sure that the life He richly gives us will always come again.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing (New Internationa Bible, Psalm 145:15-16).
