Talk about tradition! Turkey is always on the menu for Thanksgiving. We would never think of making tacos. Turkey is a tradition and whether you even like it, it will be at the center of a Thanksgiving meal. There’s always fireworks on July 4th. We, as Americans, just understand that the lighting of the sky with sparkling colors is just what we do. Then there’s the hallmark of the Christmas season. The Christmas tree! We work hard to make it beautiful and inviting for all to see as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. These events are traditions and they are seasonal. The earth seems to produce more rain in April to supply nourishment for the beautiful array of flowers that bloom in the coming months. There’s times of planting and times of harvesting. God works His plan for the earth based on seasons. He also works in our personal lives, spiritually, in seasons.
If you’ve lived in this world for more than five minutes, you know that things can get difficult pretty quickly. Sharing toys at preschool is hard for a three year old but it prepares them for kindergarten. Learning math is tough for the high school student, but it’s the very thing that prepares them for college. Whatever season of life you find yourself in, it’s just that. It’s a season. It’s not forever. Some seasons are wonderful and days are easy. Some seasons are tough and put a lot of strain on us physically, emotionally and sometimes spiritually. It’s in these times that we usually get all too human. We tend to gripe and complain. It’s at these times that we have to look up to the Lord instead of looking at what we’re dealing with horizontally.
“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalms 30:5 NLT) This is God’s promise to you for whatever you find yourself dealing with. It’s definitely darkest before dawn. Hang on! You’re going to make it through. He’s going to use this time of hardship to file off some rough edges you may have not known you had. He’s shaping you and showing you how to fully lean into Him. Without hardship, we wouldn’t need to lean in so close. He’s teaching you through this time. Listen for His voice. Don’t let the chaos drown Him out. This is preparation time for something or someone in your future.
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NLT) Notice this verse says that our present troubles won’t last very long? That’s good news. God, Himself, puts a time limit on the tough stuff. He knows how much we can handle individually. Keep on keeping on. He’s got things up ahead for you that can only be appreciated and understood by the training He has you in. “Don’t be afraid, you animals of the field, for the wilderness pastures will soon be green. The trees will again be filled with fruit; fig trees and grapevines will be loaded down once more.” (Joel 2:22 NLT) This is directed towards animals of the field. We’re more important to Him than they are but He’s so kind to reassure them of the coming bounty. He surely does above and beyond for us. He’s basically saying that this may be a dry season in your life, but soon life will be full again.
“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.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NLT) This pretty much sums it up. The time between your entrance and exit in this world is filled with season after season. They’re all for a reason. Sometimes we don’t understand any of it but God has a plan. Don’t fight it. Learn to trust Him. There’s abundant lessons in the seasons.
Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee, and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband Robby and cat Harold.
