The Purple Pansy

               Last summer I had hanging baskets of flowers at the front of the house.  Among the various flowers were purple pansies.  By early October it was time for the baskets to come down, their season of beauty was over.  They had been touched by frost and didn’t have much life left in them.   I dumped them into the compost to get ready to put up fall decorations.   A couple of weeks later I noticed a purple pansy growing in the mulch under the front steps.  Some seeds must have dropped from the basket.

  It was a surprising time of year for a new plant to start to grow.  I expected it to wilt and die, but as the weather grew colder it continued to bloom.  The steps sheltered the plant from the frost, but still allowed the afternoon sun to shine on it.  Snow didn’t seem to bother it.  As December approached the little flower continued to bloom while surrounded with a light dusting of snow.  I knew this little pansy was fearless when it bloomed for me on Christmas day and then to ring in the New Year.   Soon after, when the great mounds of January snow covered everything, I figured that would be the last of the purple pansy.  February continued to overwhelm us with tons of snow.  During March the occasional thaw would allow a glimpse of the pansy through the snow.  The blooms were wilted, but the leaves were still a healthy green.  By mid-April the snow was pretty much gone and the persistent little flower started to bloom again.  I found it hard to believe the pansy had survived the winter, especially since it was one of the stormiest winters we’d seen in a while.  The little pansy had endured hardships and difficulties and still continued to bloom.  The flower had planted itself under a great shelter.  The steps were close to the house and made a perfect place to grow.

 Life quite often brings seasons of storms. No one is untouched by problems and hurts.  The difficulties can be overwhelming, situations can be smothering.  Facing the challenges and difficulties of day to day life can make one want to run and hide.   It can be hard to imagine that “Spring” will ever come.  In Psalm 91 David wrote: 

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. ² I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” ³ (Psalm 91:1-2) 

It is important to remember that this Psalm was written during a very difficult time for David; his life was in danger.  He then went on to say:

 ⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (Psalm 91:4) 

God is our shelter and protector in tough and trying times.   Being a Christian is not an exemption from experiencing difficulties.  It does mean, however, that we don’t have to go it alone.   God is faithful, the problem may not go away, but He remains close giving strength and comfort.  It doesn’t mean we understand why things are happening or that it is easy.  God has a way of giving “unreasonable” peace in the midst of trials.   Like the pansy, plant yourself under His shelter.  Make Him your refuge and fortress.

 This past winter while facing some of my own challenges, the purple pansy was a great source of encouragement to me.  Since it was growing under the front steps I saw it every time I went in the house.  It served as a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness to me.  I am so thankful that I can rest in His shelter.