Page 131 - Radical Love by Linda Robinson_FEB2025

SESSION 7

This can take time, as we see from the Shulamite’s response, but the

Lord is gentle and knows our fears, weaknesses, and frailties. He waits
patiently for us to grow in the grace that will equip us for all that lies

ahead—but He will never force us. The choice to move with God’s
Spirit is always ours.

We see from verse 11 in the text that:

“The season of her barren winter has ended; the season of hiding is
over and the rains have soaked the earth…”

Winter is a time of seeming barrenness and unfruitfulness, where
nothing seems to be happening on the surface. Yet is this really the

case? Not at all!

Beneath the surface of the soil, a hive of activity is underway as the
new plant feeds voraciously to strengthen itself and prepare for the new

season. The colder the winter, the better the quality of the plant can be.
This is because bugs and parasites that might have attached themselves

to the plant during its previous flowering season are destroyed by the
frost, thereby stopping hindrances to the healthy growth of the new,

emerging plant.

This can be an analogy of our spiritual life, where we have had to
endure harsh conditions and, to the outside world, appear seemingly

inactive in our Christian walk. These tough times and trials, however,
are vital to the productivity of our next spiritual season as they throw

us into the arms of Jesus. He then reveals Himself in greater measure

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