Dormant is not dead. Recently I struck up a conversation with a longtime friend of mine. It wasn't long until he reminded me of the day I visited him while he was planting some trees in the front lawn of his home. As he spoke, I recalled the event and what I said. Looking down at the pathetic-looking saplings, which I think he had purchased from a mail-order nursery, I exclaimed "those trees are dead!" I think I even suggested that he pull them up (if I didn't say it I certainly was thinking it). He responded quickly and adamantly. "They are not dead, they are just dormant!" Well, should you drive by his home today you would see those beautiful trees towering towards the sky. They were dormant! They were not dead at all!
Rest leads to restoration. As leaves fall from the trees in the autumn, we must be reminded that dormancy is not deadness. There is unseen activity within the trees.
There will be times in our spiritual journey when it may appear or feel like we are dead, not dormant. Yet we ought not to be too hasty in coming to such an opinion. Times of dormancy are actually necessary for our spiritual development. These times of rest, and what appears to be inactivity, are preparing us for future growth and greater usefulness.
For thirty years we hear very little of the life of Jesus our Lord. Then he bursts unto the pages of history. Today more than two billion people claim him - with more billions at least respecting him. Jesus Himself at times encouraged his followers to "come aside and rest a while". Rest leads to restoration. As leaves fall from the trees in the autumn, we must be reminded that dormancy is not deadness. There is unseen activity within the trees. Spring shall come again after the dormancy of winter. Be encouraged. God has not forsaken you.