Seasons. We all have seasons. With Thanksgiving being over I feel Fall is coming to a close. Personally, my favorite. Now a new season – winter! I mean seriously, who looks forward to winter? If it wasn’t for Christmas, then why? Do you really love to be cold, to defrost your car window before getting to drive and look forward to your utility bill going through the roof? Just saying.
Life is full of seasons and not any one season, especially our winters, get to define you.
We have a season of young love and a season of a matured relationship. Bert and I just celebrated 24 years back in September. We have walked through many seasons in our marriage. We have seasons with babies, preschool kiddos, which quickly turn into teens and all the sudden you have a Senior. Hello, this is where I just found myself. It is kind of like Christmas. You know it is coming and yet it sneaks up on you when it finally arrives.
Seasons. We also have seasons of grief and seasons of joy.
Sometimes we have seasons of hurry and busyness. And I think this is where a lot of people get stuck. Is getting “stuck” in a season even a thing?
For me, I have been in a season of hurry for possibly years, so much so that I don’t notice anymore.
The overwhelming, weighty feeling of responsibilities at home, church, career, school, family, etc. can cripple a child of God if we let it. I’ve felt it. Have you?
Currently, I am also in a season of CHANGE. This is not my favorite. God has taught me over the years through some hard circumstances to TRUST him in every season. He continues teaching me still to LOVE him regardless of pain, grief, change or hardship I may be going through. By this I mean, RELY on Him. I cannot meet everyone’s expectations. I cannot do enough. I love a to-do list and I want to have productive days. Frankly, with my health, some days I can’t accomplish anything on “the list”. On these days, I am forced to SLOW DOWN. With the little energy or strength I have on any given day, I want to choose Christ and people over the to-do list. Yes, I still must eventually get the laundry done but not at the expense of missing out on a conversation with a teenager ready to talk, missing an opportunity of serving a hurting family who just lost their father, and most importantly, sitting at the feet of Jesus in quiet to start my day.
As much as these don’t define us; each of these seasons will shape us. Like I was mentioning above, the good part of seasons is they DO eventually change. It will be spring before we know it. I pray you can find reason in this season you are in to rejoice and find gratitude even if your life is in a “winter”. I do completely understand that some times it feels impossible to be thankful or find your joy. Some of my friends are looking around and all you see if loss and a huge hole or emptiness inside and you feel you may never see the other side of your circumstances. You are not alone! The Winter may feel more than you can bear but Spring is coming. You can take joy this very day that you have not been forgotten or abandoned in your personal winter. We have mercy, forgiveness and therefore ultimate joy. Remember joy and happiness are not the same thing! Your days may be full of grief or suffering as you read this. Joy from the Lord supersedes our circumstances though because it is rooted in His character and what we know to be true about God the Father, our Abba and the Prince of Peace.
I encourage you to trust in God’s sovereignty and rely on His strength and wisdom in each season. I think this is necessary each and every day. Therefore, we must read our Bibles daily! It is our strength. It is our weapon. It is our wisdom. Did I mention the Word of God brings comfort, counsel and clarity? Shall I go on? It is our sword to fight in this battle we call life.
What season are you currently in? Are you resting in and relying on Christ?
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."
Lamentations 3:22-24 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies are never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."
What verse comes to mind as you read this article? Leave a verse in comments if you think another one that encourages you!
Remember I love you 1,000 elephants!
Tara