Through Every Winter and Spring - Faithfulness When Life Brings Change and Loss: Lesson 4

Pr Enos Mwakalindile
Aug 22
6 min read

Celebrating Marriage Covenant, Faithfulness, and Renewed Hope Together

Silhouette of a couple embracing at sunset next to a cross, set against a gradient sky. The scene evokes a peaceful, romantic mood.

Introduction

In every long marriage, winter and spring trade places again and again. There are seasons of barrenness and cold—loss, illness, goodbyes—and seasons when hope and life return with fresh blossoms of joy. The true test of love is not how we thrive in easy times, but how we hold each other through the winters and faithfully wait for spring’s return.

How do couples remain steadfast when life brings unwelcome change or deep loss? How does faithfulness look when the landscape of your marriage is frosted with sorrow, yet you trust the promise of new life?This lesson invites you to reflect on God’s faithfulness in every season—and to draw courage from His unchanging love as you face your own winters and springs.

Expected Outcomes

Learn to recognize God’s presence and purpose in every season of your marriage.
Deepen your trust and faithfulness, especially when facing loss or major change.
Discover practical ways to support each other through times of grief or transition.
Renew your hope in God’s promises, whatever the season.

Biblical and Christian Foundations

1. God’s love is faithful through every season.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Constant Through Changing Seasons. Life brings cycles—joy and sadness, abundance and scarcity, beginnings and endings. Yet God’s love is the steady heartbeat beneath every change. Like the earth turning faithfully through winter and spring, His love never ceases, sustaining us when warmth fades and when new growth bursts forth.

A Refuge in the Shifting Landscape. When circumstances shift—children leave home, health changes, dreams fade—God is the unchanging rock. Like a sturdy cabin in a snowy field, His presence is shelter and warmth, providing hope that endures through every storm and thaw.

2. Faithfulness is proven in the waiting and the weeping.

"Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy." (Psalm 126:5)

Sowing Seeds in the Winter. Some seasons of marriage feel cold and fruitless—full of tears, disappointments, or uncertainty. But God invites us to plant seeds of faithfulness even in the frozen ground, trusting that joy will break through in time, like green shoots after a long winter.

A Harvest Only God Can See. While we wait, God is working beneath the surface. Just as a farmer trusts the hidden work of spring, couples learn to trust that grief and waiting are not wasted—they are seasons when God prepares a harvest of new hope.

3. Grief is part of love’s journey, and God meets us there.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)

The Sacredness of Shared Tears. Every love story includes losses—loved ones gone, dreams unfulfilled, health diminished. Mourning together is not weakness; it is a holy act of love. God draws close to broken hearts, turning even our tears into seeds of comfort and healing.

Comfort in the Midst of Sorrow. In the darkest winters of loss, God’s Spirit is a blanket that gently wraps around grieving souls. Like a friend sitting beside us in silence, His presence brings peace and slowly warms us back to hope.

4. Faithfulness means walking together through valleys, not just mountains.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." (Psalm 23:4)

Companions in the Valley. True love is proven not just in the heights, but in the valleys of sorrow, confusion, or loneliness. As you journey together, hand in hand, your faithfulness mirrors God’s—steady, present, never letting go.

Light for the Path Ahead. In every shadowy place, God’s promise is to walk beside you. Like a lantern glowing on a winter’s night, His Word lights each step until the dawn of a new season, and His presence gives courage to keep moving forward.

5. New beginnings come after loss, as surely as spring follows winter.

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:19)

The Hope of Spring’s Return. Loss is never the end of the story in God’s hands. Just as the frozen earth gives way to green, God brings fresh starts—new laughter, friendships, and purpose—after seasons of sorrow. Hope is the bud waiting beneath the frost.

Welcoming What Is New. Embracing new beginnings means opening your hands to receive what God is growing now, not only clinging to what was lost. Like gardeners planting after a long winter, couples are called to nurture new dreams and welcome each fresh gift with gratitude.

6. Faithfulness is seen in small acts of care when life is hardest.

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

Little Acts, Lasting Love. When strength is low or sadness lingers, faithfulness is measured in everyday kindness—sharing a cup of tea, holding a hand, praying together. Like candles flickering through a long night, these small acts bring warmth and light until the morning.

Love that Serves. True faithfulness does not need applause; it shines quietly in gentle touches and practical help. In caring for each other through hard seasons, couples live out Christ’s love—building trust and resilience that lasts a lifetime.

7. Hope endures because God’s promises do not fail.

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)

Anchored in Unfailing Promises. Hope is not wishful thinking but a sturdy anchor—rooted in the unchanging faithfulness of God. Even when winter seems endless, His promises are seeds of life that cannot be lost, holding your marriage secure through every storm.

A Future With God. As you cling to hope together, your faith becomes a beacon for others. Like the return of spring after a harsh winter, your story declares to the world that God is faithful, and every season will be made new in Him.

Life Application

Name Your Season: Sit down together and talk honestly about which season of life you find yourselves in right now—whether it feels like winter, spring, or something in between. Invite God right into that moment, asking Him to give you strength, patience, and a sense of His presence no matter the weather.
Practice Faithfulness in Small Ways: Make it a daily habit to look for just one way you can show love, care, or support to your spouse—especially when life feels heavy. Sometimes the little gestures—a kind word, a shared cup of tea—can carry you both through the hardest days.
Remember and Anticipate: Take some time to share a memory of a season when God brought you through the cold of winter and into new hope. As you remember, let that story fill you with faith and anticipation for the springtime that lies ahead, knowing God has done it before and will do it again.
Comfort One Another: Be intentional about comforting your spouse when they are hurting or feeling low—listen to their heart, offer to pray together, or simply sit side by side in quiet solidarity. Sometimes just being present is the most powerful way to remind each other that you’re not alone.

Reflection Questions

When have you and your spouse faced a season of “winter”—loss, change, or sorrow—and how did God meet you there?
What does faithfulness look like when circumstances are hard and answers are few?
How do you remind each other of God’s promises when hope seems distant?
In what small ways can you show love and support to your spouse when words are not enough?
How has God brought new beginnings after seasons of loss or waiting in your marriage?
What do you find most challenging about embracing change together, and how can you support each other through it?
How might your story of enduring hope help another couple facing their own “winter”?

Final Blessing

May the God of all seasons walk with you through every winter and spring. May His faithfulness sustain you in times of loss, and may His hope break through like sunlight after a long night. May you find joy in new beginnings and comfort in His unchanging love. Amen.