Hibernation is an adaptation that helps certain animals survive a season of difficult weather. During this extended period of time, they escape the cold, conserve energy by remaining inactive, and live off of extra stored up calories.
For the last year and a half, my family has been in hibernation mode. We have had to slow down our lives and push pause on anything that depleted our already low energy. Sometimes this meant that we had to take a hiatus from work, extra-curricular activities, serving, and even certain relationships that exhausted us.
The things that we were once able to do with grace and ease, we could no longer do in that season. However, this was a necessary suspension, in order to adapt to our surroundings and bear the harsh weather conditions of life. It was a survival strategy.
Although much of life’s circumstances were out of our control, we did our best to huddle up as a team, stay unified as a nuclear family unit, and persevere through it together.
Here’s what that looks like as the storms are raging:
Not sensing God’s presence, but still knowing He is there
Not feeling happy, but still trying to practice joy in all circumstances
Not being able to physically move, but still sitting next to one another and just keeping company
Not experiencing the words of worship songs, but still singing truth through the tears
Not relating to the passages written in the Bible, but still making time to read God’s Word
Not receiving answered prayers of healing, but still hoping and praying without ceasing
Not seeing miracles, but still believing they exist
Not hearing God’s voice, but still listening in expectation and waiting for instructions
Not liking the circumstances, but still trying to bear fruit
Not recognizing our surroundings, but still striving to move in a forward direction
Not knowing what is going to happen next, but still trusting that God is good—all the time
We certainly did not always do all of the above perfectly. Some days were unbearable. Other days it felt like going through dormant motions. But we did our best—and by God’s grace, we are still here. The storms did not destroy us.
Hibernation requires preparation. Extra nourishment is accumulated in advance, in order to survive long periods of inactivity and scarcity.
Thank God He fed us in advance! If we did not have our stored up foundational truths in God to rely on, I am not sure what we would even be living off of today? This is why it is so important to consume God’s Word and develop a relationship with Him ahead of time—before the storms hit hard.
Good News . . Animals do not stay in hibernation!
“And so you will bear testimony to me.” (Luke 21:13 NIV)
“But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.” (Luke 21:13 NLT)
I hope you join me for the last segment of this 3-part blog next time with, “Freaky Friday.” This is when things took an unexpected turn . . .