How is the new year going for you so far? I was thinking how a new year always sparks hope within me because it can bring that sense of a fresh start. New beginnings. A time where maybe many of us set some goals.

Life can still throw some hurdles to try to slow us down as we excitedly seek out fresh starts and new beginnings. And that’s okay because we can remind ourselves that we need to slow down anyway. So yes, we’ll slow down, but we’ll keep going because of the hope within us.

It also dawned on me that the new year starts during winter. Winter can be cold and gloomy, but I want my heart to embrace the warmth and light within me. I find myself at the start of a new year dancing with joy for the new and can quickly sink into the reality of the harshness of winter.

Winter is often viewed negatively because of the cold, shorter days, and bare trees. And I’ll be the first to admit that I’m the one impatiently waiting for springtime, longing for warmer weather, flowers, and sunshine.

But here is what I sense the Father speaking to my heart.

Even in the wintertime, when it appears that nothing is growing, growth is all around, hidden in the depths. There are roots deep within the ground that are fully alive. And soon, we will see the blossoms and blooms.

But right now, as we start a new year in the wintertime, cold and gray for many of us, we can hold on to that spark of hope. We can embrace the growth that is taking place in the depths.

And if you’re going through something that feels like wintertime, know that Jesus opens His arms out wide to hold you and get you through.

Under what may look gloomy are roots planted deep. And those dreary, cold days that may seem flawed can be viewed as beautiful because there is still life deep in the depths.

The bitter cold and gray skies may paint a flawed picture of winter, but what if we view it as a masterpiece in the making? And even when trouble comes during our fresh starts and new beginnings, what if we embrace the life that we know is rooted in the depths?

There’s so much I can embrace in the winter. I think I miss out on a lot because I see the flaws of winter rather than the beauty. But I want to live each day in the fullness that the Father has for me, don’t you?

So on a cold winter day, why not slow down and drink your favorite coffee and put together a puzzle? It’s okay to stop and do these simple things. That’s what I did the other day, and I plan to do more of that this year.

As we wait in the winter for the blooms, we can embrace the simple things in life. I grabbed my favorite coffee, listened to a podcast, and started my puzzle that, yes, is spring flowers. Because while it is going to be winter for a little while, and I know I must see the beauty in it, why not anticipate the springtime that will soon come?

And friends, let’s see the beauty at work within us. I loved that my coffee cup reminded me of just that – “You are His masterpiece.”

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10

While you can’t see the full picture yet of this puzzle as pieces are not put together yet, once complete, it will be a beautiful picture.

Every piece matters. The winter matters. The spring matters. The roots matter. The growth matters. Even the dreary can matter. It’s just a matter of how we look at it.

As we go into this new year, grab your favorite coffee and remind yourself that your life is a masterpiece in the works.