MSN.com released a poll today asking “How do you feel about wintry weather?” At 8:34 AM on December 12, 2017, the poll recorded the following responses:

• 18% love it.
• 17% like it
• 12% say it makes no difference
• 30% don’t care for it much
• 23% hate it

It is interesting to see how things change with the seasons. Many people are deeply affected by the changing of the seasons. Season Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real phenomenon which brings depressive symptoms onto individuals.

God is in control of all things. Psalm 115:3 tells us “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” Psalm 103:19 tells us, “The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” Psalm 135:6 says, “Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.” We trust that God is able to do all that he pleases and that our lives are in direct correlation to his actions. He told Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute of deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I , the LORD?”. This is how “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Today, I believe it is important to focus on how we react to how God has blessed us. It is clear that “blessedness” has more to do with how we are satisfied with the position in which God has placed us than with how abundant we might perceive our bounty from God.

Jesus taught that the poor in spirit and the mournful are “blessed” (Matthew 5:3, 4). Few among us would choose to be poor in spirit or go through times of mourning. However, Jesus said those groups are blessed of God. Jesus was praised in Mark 11:9 as the crowd said, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” But remember that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem so that he would be rejected and crucified. Few would find that journey one of blessing if they were to be rejected and crucified.

So where has God placed us? Whether we be in winter or summer, fall or spring, we are where God has placed us. Prayerfully, we can learn to not only accept the position in which God has placed us, but also to be thankful for whatever position God has placed us. This is a difficult thing for us to do. This is a difficult attitude for us to acquire. This is a difficult posture of submission to embrace.

Remember the words of Job, “Be silent before me so that I may speak; then let come on me what may. Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hands? Though he slay me, I will hope in Him” (Job 13:13-15). Whatever befalls us, let us trust in Him.