Seasons

We are all familiar with the four seasons we experience in a year. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter each have a time and aesthetic about them, and most of us have a favorite. I will go ahead and put myself out there as the outcast and say Winter is my favorite season. I love the snow, the warm drinks, the outfits, the decor, and Christmas. However, not all of winter is beautiful and Hallmark magic. There is the ice on roads, frigid temperatures, layers of clothing, the early nightfall; it is not all bliss. Our lives are the same way. I’m sure we’ve all had a season of our lives we can look back on, or maybe you’re living it now, and you can say I really enjoyed that time in my life especially. However, in those seasons I can guarantee there were days when nothing seemed to go right, you were aggravated about something or you thought for sure you’d never forget how you’d be wronged. Now that you reflect on that seemingly perfect time in your life, you tend to block out all the disagreements, spilled coffees, and wrongdoings because they turned out to not be so important after all. We tend to take with us what matters. So whatever this season feels like, make sure Jesus is the center of it and remember to take that good with you onto the next one.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us “ 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.” (ESV)

Maybe you’re in the season of nothing is feeling right. Maybe your spirit is dry. Maybe these new ways of life we are learning due to COVID has you heartbroken, overwhelmed, stressed, broken and anxious. Let me remind you, this is a season. It may not be your favorite one but you’re walking through it. Everyday you get up and you are facing those feelings- good or bad. My advice would be to remember Ecclesiastes 3 every time you feel overwhelmed.

Let me remind you that this season is going to go as quickly as it came. This is just a piece in the big picture of your life. This world is seasonal. It is not our home; we are just passing through. But guess what isn’t seasonal? God. God’s grace, love, mercy, joy, support, strength, all His goodness is never changing. God is not seasonal. His word tells us He is the same yesterday, today and forever! ( Hebrews 13:8) In a world that feels so dim and ever changing, it’s nice to have something to cling onto that is never changing. Psalm 62:6 says “He is my rock, and my salvation, He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Remind yourself this is temporary. Don’t allow this season to shake you in your faith. Respect all those feelings, it’s not bad to feel them- God gave us emotions to feel, but don’t let them take control. Don’t dwell in those feelings. Dwell in the One who is unchanging. "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Give thanks in all circumstances. Even this one. Rejoice and pray without ceasing- whether you're in the valley or on the mountain. God is the same in both.

I don’t know what this season looks like for you. Maybe your cup is running over with the joy of the Lord and things are going well. I am so happy for you for finding your footing in this season. I celebrate with you. Enjoy your time on the mountain- praise and pray up for the next season. Because just like the bad times, those seasons of happy are usually just that- a season in this world. Maybe you're falling on some hard times in this season. That's okay. It gets better. All those struggles here just remind us how much sweeter Heaven will be. I'm praying for you. This yucky feeling is just a season too.

God is year round. Place your burdens, praises, and trust on Him.