Trust God's Timing

I’ll admit, March isn’t my most favourite month - neither is November actually. Both months are lacking in some serious colour. November sees nature tucking itself in for the long cold winter and March is covered in the salt and sand that was put down to protect us from winter’s blanket of ice and snow. The more I think about it, both are shoulder months, or transition months where nature is in a sort of limbo. Let’s look at using March as a metaphor for the “in-between” moments of life.

It’s not all that unreasonable why I don’t love these two months. There’s nothing notable that happens during them! All that we’re doing is waiting for the big moments—Easter and Christmas—which I love. But why can’t I spin the negative around and start looking at the months leading up to these big events as time to prepare, reflect and give praise for all that we have to look forward to in the future? This may help to stifle the impatience thats starting to fill up inside me as well.

March as a Metaphor

March, in its transition from winter to spring, can be a metaphor for the “in-between” moments of life. These are the times when we’re not quite where we used to be but haven’t yet reached where we’re going. It’s easy to grow impatient in these seasons, to feel like nothing significant is happening. Yet, what if we could use this “limbo” period to reflect on how far we’ve come and prepare ourselves for the growth ahead? It’s also a good idea to focus on something other than what you’re waiting for. It’ll help to squelch the dreaded impatience bug!

Just like nature quietly transitions behind the scenes, March can serve as a time for personal growth, even when it doesn’t feel like much is happening on the surface. Much like the quiet strength of the earth as it prepares for the blossoms of spring, we too can find strength in our quieter seasons. We may not see the immediate results of our growth, but change is happening—slowly but surely.

Season of Growth

My mother starts planting seeds for her summer garden mid-March—not before—not after. This is the one thing that helps her get through the winter. She savours flipping through the various seed catalogues she receives in the mail. My mum’s a planner as well. Each year she measures the space she needs in between each plant and takes an accurate count of the amount of plants that she hopes to have both around her patio for colour and in her community garden bed for harvest.

She starts the growing season by placing the seeds in a blanket of wet tissue to start the germination process. It’s a delicate mixture of water, oxygen, temperature and sunlight. This first step is crucial for the plants to survive. So, like a plant that takes its time pushing through the soil, we can allow our faith to take root deeply in the quiet moments of life. When the big moments come—like Easter, Christmas, or any other season of celebration—we’ll be more ready to appreciate them because we’ve taken time to nurture and grow during the quieter months.

Embracing Quiet Moments

As we march toward spring, the arrival of the season symbolizes spiritual growth. Spring isn’t just about the trees blooming and flowers poking through the ground; it’s about renewal, resurrection, and transformation. In much the same way, our faith requires nourishment, patience, and care to grow. Just as we can’t rush the blooming of a flower, we can’t rush the development of our spiritual lives.

In these “in-between” months, we can focus on our spiritual practices—prayer, reflection, and devotion. These moments might feel quiet or uneventful, but they’re actually the foundation for our future growth. They allow us time to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re going.

Trust God’s Timing

Rather than seeing March as a dull waiting period, we can choose to embrace it as a time of preparation. Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that God has a plan for our lives, one of hope and prosperity, even when we can’t yet see it. His plan is for our good, promising a future filled with hope and no harm.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Takeaways

Let’s gently remind ourselves that growth happens in the quiet, transitional seasons of life. Even when we can’t see it happening, we must trust God’s timing. He’s at work, preparing us for what’s ahead. Just like nature, we too are in a season of growth—quiet but sure—and we can trust that brighter days are on the way.

Let’s march into spring with faith, knowing that our patience and preparation will lead to beautiful growth ahead.