It may have arrived a bit late, but winter has truly asserted itself in western Pennsylvania. There is snow outside of my window that is over 11 days old. Near-zero temperatures every night have my furnace working overtime and demanding paid sick leave. My fall / spring jacket has become an indoor fashion statement. Steam is spilling out of the storm sewers like a Gotham City movie set. And we’re of even out of January.

How do you handle winter and other challenges? Like the strategies we see in nature, humans have various ways of handling the troubles of life. Maybe your strategy resembles some of those?

• The Migrator: Some animals feel the change in seasons – in some cases they see a change in the angle of the sun’s light – and they feel the sudden desire to travel south. Trouble leads some people to run away. Sometimes this is a valid and good response (Joseph with Potiphar’s wife) but it can also be an escape from a tough duty (Jonah). If you tend to run from every problem, look to God for the strength to face what comes (Psalm 56:1-4).
• The Transformer: Many animals are able to respond to cold weather with a new fur coat or a thicker layer of feathers. My own dog loves to bury himself in snow even as I stand trembling. Some people’s attitude rises and falls with the troubles that come. If this leads to thicker skin and better endurance, God will be pleased (Romans 5:3-5). If this leads to following the fickle pattern of this world, our character will not transform in the direction of God’s will (Romans 12:1-2).
• The Hibernator: Animals in hibernation don’t just burrow away from the cold. Their heart rate, breathing, and metabolism all slow down to the point where they appear dead. An animal in true hibernation will not even respond to being touched. Trouble can lead some people to shut down and tune out. Since the worst of our pain comes from loving relationships that ended in loss or disappointment, some feel the need to close themselves off from others. While solitude can be good for us (Jesus in Mark 1:35), we will only hurt ourselves if we stay distant from one another (I Corinthians 12:12-31).
• The Builder: There is only one animal that learned to harness fire, water, and electricity. Only one creature on this planet invented thermostats, insulation, and long underwear. Humans fabricated themselves into being able to survive in any climate –even outer space. Some people approach life’s troubles with that same inventive tenacity. They imagine every challenge as having a solution that can be met with hard work. When this approach follows God’s lead, great things can happen (look at the vigor of the church in Jerusalem – Acts 4:23-37). When this approach leans too heavily on inflated hubris, the results are paltry at best (Revelation 3:14-22).

May God help us approach every struggle with strategies and attitudes that honor Him. We are called to examine ourselves as we remember Jesus’ sacrifice (I Corinthians 11:28). Let’s handle our trials with hearts that resemble Christ.