I don't know about you, but I'm sure happy it is Spring! It's so nice to have warmer weather, birds chirping and green start to appear around us. If this was all that made up Spring weather it would, hands down, be my favourite season. It's not though. Just yesterday morning, before the 30 degree weather I experienced in the afternoon, there was rain. There are times in Spring when it is dark, gloomy, wet, cold and before the buds arrive, brown and dirty. Both are part of Spring and both are necessary.
It struck me yesterday that this one season is a good analogy for the seasons we can experience in our life. We can experience a dark, cold, dirty, and gloomy time of struggling through something. We can also experience a bright, hopeful and lush time of life filled with joy. I would also like to add an "in-between" time as well. (If based on the season Spring in Canada maybe even a fourth - lowest of the low - represented by snowfall in April). Just kidding. Kind of. :)
Yesterday on the radio I heard Joyce Meyers' clip "Everyday Minutes." She said that it is in our times of struggle that we often do our most spiritual growing. I couldn't agree more. As hard as it is to struggle, be unsure of our future, feel as though life is dark and cold, we can learn and grow in that time. It is in those times we realize that we are not alone, God is with us, He loves us and we need Him.
I would suggest that after our time of struggle and feeling an intense closeness to God we enter an in-between time. The lessons we learned are still close at heart. The discipline of coming before God and laying everything down have become habit. We can start to gain some insight into the situation because the hurt, pain and intensity of our struggle has lessened.
And then there's the joy filled, hopeful, bright season of life. Even as I'm writing this I'm thinking, "Does this really exist in our lifetime?" I think it does here on earth. But I know for sure it will be in heaven. I believe our life is an intermingling of these seasons with the ultimate goal being a closeness to God and a change in our hearts and minds to become more like Jesus.
I'm beginning to see each season in my life as preparation for the next. As a pre-teen I remember thinking about Jesus' death and resurrection and being almost fearful. I didn't want all that he had done to go to waste. I wanted to make sure I fully embraced the gift he had given me so that what he did wouldn't be for nothing. I had similar thoughts during my low season when I had alopecia. I just opened my heart and prayed that God change me and teach me. I didn't want to go through it all for nothing. I also remember one Sunday morning, worshiping and being in God's presence thinking, "Going through this will make the good times that much better."
Where do you think you are in your journey? I feel like I'm in an in-between stage right now. I know God is preparing myself and my family for good things ahead. We will need to remain in prayer and dependence on Him. It will still be a time of learning for us and I'm really excited to see what God has in store.
It's easy to let the comings and going of life pass. Believe me, I understand working, cleaning, cooking, laundry, mothering, "wifing," teaching and the list goes on. I would like to encourage you to take ten minutes, lock yourself in a room alone, go for a walk alone, sit outside alone. (Notice the word ALONE). Just take some time to reflect on where you're at, what God is teaching you and what he might be preparing you for. Write it down so you remember. In a month come back and read it. When you open your eyes to the work God is doing in your life it will refresh, renew and encourage you.
