Winter’s Quiet Work

 By Diana Leagh Matthews

 

As I write this, we are in the middle of our second snowstorm within a week here in South Carolina, with the possibility of a third in the pipeline. All the snow got me thinking about the winters of our lives. I find myself in that season now in so many areas, and winter—though quiet and difficult—has much to teach us.  

Lessons from a Winter Season

Drawing Closer to God: I’ve had more time to sit at the feet of Jesus and soak in His Word. Learning to quiet all the other outside noises is a challenge at times as I seek the Lord’s whisper. Yet he will speak in His time and way.

Making Space to Grieve: There have been many losses to grieve— broken dreams, job changes, and personal losses. I hadn’t realized how much these had accumulated or the toil they had taken. This season has required me to step back, grieve, and begin healing.

Honing the Craft: While my writing may not be flowing freely, I am using this time to read, study, and strengthen my skills.  

Working on Something New: A novel may feel out of reach right now, but I can try other forms of writing—journaling, devotions, poetry, a song, or a short story.

Learning New Skills: There are skills I’ve long wanted to develop and to become proficient in. Winter is a good time to study, practice, and learn, whether those skills serve my writing life or lead me into a new hobby altogether.

Resetting My Priorities: This season has given me space to reset the plans I once held tightly. I’m redefining what success looks like, discerning a new direction, and slowly mapping the steps forward.

A Slower Pace: Currently, I have no deadlines, so I can work at my own pace. And if I choose, to submit, find publications for devotions, anthologies, or shorter articles on a freelance basis.

Being More Fully Present: My mind isn’t so cluttered, and I can be more fully present and cherish the moments, whether I’m with family and friends, playing with my pooch, or enjoying nature. It’s in these still moments that God is often heard the most.

Seeking God’s Will: This slower pace allows me to wait on the Lord and seek His guidance. Winter teaches patience and trust in ways that busier seasons often cannot.

Often, the Lord must prune us before we can flourish, just as a plant is pruned before it blooms. Recently, I was surprised to see a sparrow return to its nest—a small but powerful reminder. Even in calm, still, and quiet moments, spring is on the way.

In the same way, this slower pace will not last forever. Spring will return, bringing new opportunities and fresh blessings.

Psalm 127:1 reminds us, Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain (NIV). When we write for the Lord, it is His house. Sometimes we must learn to step aside so His will—not our striving—can be fulfilled.

Winter strips away performance and leaves devotion. What emerges in spring is often quieter—but truer, steadier, and more deeply rooted.

What have you learned in the quieter seasons of life?

 

 Photo by Tomáš Malík on Unsplash

 

Diana Leagh Matthews weaves together the past, present, and future to help women find hope and redemption through their pain. She shares her love of Christ and history through drama, music, and storytelling, and is the author of Carol of the Rooms and Forever Changed. Diana lives in upstate South Carolina with her spunky Maltese, Bentley.