Written by Chaplain Sarah Montgomery
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, looking out across the frost-dusted fields of Allegan County, it is impossible not to notice the peculiar rhythm of our Michigan winter. Just this past week, we woke up to a world blanketed in heavy, white snow, the kind of cold that bites through your coat and makes the world feel still and frozen. Yet, within twenty-four hours, the wind shifted. The temperature climbed into the high 40s, the sun broke through the gray, and the ice began to weep into the pavement.
In Michigan, we have a saying: “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.” But as I walk the halls of the Allegan County Corrections Center, I am reminded that this unpredictable climate is more than just a local quirk; it is a profound illustration of the human soul and our walk of faith.
Our faith often mirrors Michigan weather. There are seasons where our spirits feel “frozen,” cold, distant, and hardened by the circumstances of life. We feel the “winter” of the soul, where God seems silent and the path forward is obscured by a blizzard of worry or regret. Then, unexpectedly, a “thaw” comes. A word of scripture, a moment of prayer, or a kind gesture from a stranger brings the warmth of the Holy Spirit, reminding us that spring is never as far away as it feels.
This ebb and flow is a natural part of the Christian journey. We are not meant to live in a perpetual, unchanging heat. Rather, we are called to trust the One who remains constant even when the thermometer of our emotions swings wildly. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He is the steady ground beneath the melting snow.
This “weather” of the heart is something our volunteers and I witness every day inside the jail. When men and women first enter the corrections center, they are often in the depths of a bitter winter. They arrive feeling down, discarded, and “forgotten.” The weight of their mistakes or the uncertainty of their future creates a frost that can be hard to penetrate.
But then, something beautiful happens. Through the work of Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry, the “warmth” of the Gospel begins to move in. When an inmate encounters Jesus through a Bible study, a one-on-one mentoring session, or a simple conversation with a volunteer, the atmosphere shifts. We see the ice begin to melt. We see faces that were once downcast start to lift. They leave our presence, and eventually the facility, different than when they arrived. Not because the “weather” of their life has become perfect, but because they have found the Light that keeps them warm in any season.
Whether the days ahead are snowy or sunny, let us hold fast to the truth that our God is moving. May we embrace the ebbs and flows of our own faith, knowing that every “thaw” is a gift and every “cold snap” is an opportunity to lean harder into Him.