I AM happy to admit that this is not my favourite time of the year, and I know that I’m not alone in my dislike of the dark and wintry months that herald the beginning of another new year, coming so soon after the wondrous anticipation of the Advent season, and the joy of Christmas.

It is hard, and yet in the midst of the darkness and gloom, there are glimpses of new life to be seen all around us, hinting that spring might be on its way, and pointing to the wonder and glory of God’s creation.

In my garden there is already a primrose in bloom and daffodils are poised, waiting to show their joyful heads. And that fills me with an overwhelming sense of hope; a hope that soaks into every aspect of my life, because I believe that God is always doing a new thing.

I believe that God can take the darkest and most difficult circumstances of our lives and breathe new life into them. He can restore beauty and life to things that appear lifeless and lost when we put our hope and our trust in him. And so in the darkness of winter we can look forward to the coming of spring.