SEASONS
Quote: “When the winds of change blow, remember… sometimes what appears dead is simply preparing for a new season.” — Jane Lee Logan
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT – “God has made everything beautiful for its own time.”
Some Thoughts: I love living in a place that has four seasons. There are so many applications for our lives spiritually. God speaks to us through His creation, nature, and even seasons.
Each season has it good points, but sometimes bad points, too. Spring- as new life sprouts, can be rainy and muddy. I remember the months between February and June (when I lived in the Midwest) as being some of the dreariest, most gray days of all! But the brilliance of green leaves sprouting on trees is more noticeable on gray, cloudy, rainy days.
Summer has a beauty of flowers and plants and vegetables planted in the Spring all starting to grow. But the “down side” is when the temperature rises to 90’s or higher, and everything becomes dry and thirsty. Then we all complain about the heat.
Fall is my favorite season! I love the colors of the trees getting ready for winter. There seems to be a mysterious busy – ness of birds and animals preparing for the winter. I love the season of Thanksgiving. But sometimes Fall is short-lived and Winter comes too soon.
Winter is a time of overcast skies in many places. If you love snow, Winter can be exciting to watch the snow falling. Winter brings the desire for hot chocolate, hot apple cider, soup, and “comfort foods” that seem to taste better in Winter. (Think Peppermint Mocha) But we complain and shiver and gripe that it’s too cold and windy.
We have many seasons in our lives, and they include both good and bad times.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT gives us a representation of different life experiences: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.”
The sunshine and the rain have purpose in our lives.
If you feel you are in a really difficult season right now, trust God “to make everything beautiful in its own time.” He will. God is thrifty – He doesn’t waste anything that happens to us. He is also generous – He gives us the grace we need, and abundantly blesses us above and beyond our needs.
Do you know someone who is going through a really difficult season right now? Pray that they will see “purpose” in the suffering and that God makes everything beautiful in its time. Pray for those who struggle with depression during the holiday season because of painful memories or loss of ones they loved.
Prayer: Oh Lord, thank You for the circumstances You’ve allowed in my life. I confess that it’s not always “easy” or “natural” for me to thank You when things seem like they are falling apart. But, I know who You are. I know You are faithful. I know You keep Your promises and never fail. I know that You want what is “best”. I know that You walk with me through all circumstances. I will go with what “I know”, rather than what I may “feel”. Help me to be a friend and an encouragement to someone who may experiencing a difficult season. May I point them to You, the One who understands and cares and comforts us in our grief.
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