Snow and the Rhythm of Rest

 January 30, 2026

Psalm 147:16

“He gives snow like wool; He scatters frost like ashes.” 

After that little storm last weekend, we have been reflecting this week on "snow" in the Bible. It seems fitting to conclude the week and head into the weekend thinking about snow and the rhythm of rest. We noted at several points this week that snow slows the world down. Roads get quiet, fields receive a covering of white, and the usual hustle and bustle of our lives, becomes muffled under a soft white blanket of snow. 

Psalm 147 invites us to read verse 16 slowly so that we can catch the idea that snow is not a mere inconvenience but a deliberate gift: snow is like wool, a protective, insulating layer placed over the earth.

Our constant motion often wears away at us physically, mentally, and spiritually. However, rest has a restorative power. It shifts our perspective, builds strength, grows faith, connects us to our creator.

This is a truth we witness throughout the scriptures, not just in our verse today.

Isaiah 55:10–11   God’s word works in seasons; rain and snow accomplish what He intends. 

Psalm 46:10   “Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness is a spiritual posture. 

Mark 6:31    Jesus invites the disciples to rest after ministry: rest is part of faithful life. Ecclesiastes 3:1–4    There is a season for every purpose, including a season of quiet and waiting. 

Matthew 11:28–30   Jesus offers rest to the weary; rest is an invitation, not a reward.

 After loss, a parent found that the first winter after her child's death, she needed permission to be still. She said that some of her Friends that expected a quick recovery were surprised that grief was hanging on; yet other family and friends who allowed her space for silence and presence helped this grieving parent find a slow, steady way back to life. This mom wrote: "The winter of grief did not erase hope; it sheltered it until new shoots could emerge."

I wonder where might you need the restorative power of rest in your life to shift  perspective, build strength, grow faith, and connect you to our creator?

I came across the following suggestions that might be helpful for us to experience the power of rest.

Create a rhythm: Build weekly and seasonal rhythms that include deliberate rest, Sabbath hours, quiet mornings, or periodic retreats.

Protect margins: Reduce commitments for a season; say no to nonessential tasks so you can say yes to restoration.

Practice small stillnesses: Five minutes of silence, a short walk without devices, or a single unhurried meal can train you to receive rest.

Journal the winter: Record what the season is teaching you, what’s being preserved, what’s being pruned, and what you hope will grow next.

Ask for help: Let trusted friends or mentors know you’re in a slow season so they can support and not pressure you.

Let's Pray

Lord, teach me Your rhythm of rest. Help me receive seasons of slowing as Your provision and not a sign of weakness or failure. Give me patience in the waiting, wisdom to embrace the quiet, and courage to guard the spaces where You restore me. Thank You for the promise that winter is never the end of the story. Amen.