According to the Cambridge Dictionary online, dormancy is “ the state of being dormant (not active or growing but able to become active later.” Plants and trees go through a period of dormancy during the winter months, but they are not dead. They are just waiting for spring.

We also go through periods of dormancy, although they may not always occur according to season. Did you know that during the period of waiting, the plant is actually sending its roots down and gaining strength in order to flourish later? When we are in a period of being dormant, when we think that God has forgotten us (Note: He never does), then that is the time to lean in closer to God, to spend more time with Him and His Word, to send our roots down to the source of our strength. Likely, you have prayed and waited. And then waited some more. I would like to invite you to see this season as a period of dormancy, not a forever season that is there to destroy you. Rather, it is a season to make you lean more on God and to strengthen you for whatever may come later. God wants us to be joyful and at peace, trusting Him during the waiting periods. The trees and wildflowers are not whining and complaining. Instead, they just wait patiently and do what they were meant to do. They strengthen what they can while they can and just wait. We could learn a lot from a tree, couldn’t we?

I am not personally a fan of winter, but I do understand that it is part of the life cycle. Well, waiting for answers from God is part of our faith cycle. It is a necessary part of our growth, just as winter is a necessary part of a tree’s growth to make it stronger. If we want to flourish in the hard times, when we are waiting (usually impatiently), then we need to know that it has an ending and that springtime, the time of new life and growth is coming. God set the seasons for a reason and He makes us wait for a reason. Most of the time we don’t understand the reason, but if we can hold on and trust God, He will answer and we will be praising instead of whining. I encourage you to praise during the waiting, too. When I look at the trees with their bare limbs in winter, they are not bowing down to the earth. No, they are stretched up high to the sky, getting whatever sunlight is available. That is what we should be doing, too. Stretching and reaching for God with all that we have. Our period of dormancy will soon be over, but not until the time is right, and God determines the right time. We may not like waiting, but just think of the growth that is coming even as we wait.