season |ˈsiːz(ə)n| noun 1 each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer,autumn, and winter) marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours, resulting from the earth’s changing position with regard to the sun.• a period of the year characterized by a particular climatic feature or marked by a particular activity, event, or festivity: the rainy season | the season for Pumpkin Spice lattes.
The weather is finally cooling down in Dallas, Texas and I’m getting excited for all that comes with autumn. The feeling of upcoming holidays, knitted sweaters, spiced lattes, and scarves are on my mind. I’m writing this blog curled up in my favorite blanket with a pumpkin flavored coffee in hand–because when you’re talking about “changing seasons”, it just feels appropriate.
“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.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
In life, there are different seasons, and it is the same in your spiritual life. Each season of our lives brings with it both blessings and difficult circumstances. We have to learn to see the blessings in every season we walk through. I believe that everything is divine. That everything happens for a reason. When you’re walking through a difficult season in your life, be encouraged that it is only for a “season” – a brief moment in time – and that there will always be change coming soon.
I remember when my children were just born and life became very different. Nobody tells you how much your life is going to change when you have a baby–but you find out very quickly that your life is no longer your own. The seasons when you have little babies at home can be very hard because you are exhausted from feeding, carrying, changing diapers, picking up toys, etc. It almost seems as if you have no time for yourself anymore.
In times like this, you can often begin to wish you were done with the season you are currently in–always wanting what is next. If you’re single, you want to be married. When you get married, you want to have babies. Once you have babies, you want them to be grown so you can have your life back. It’s comical, really, how we are never truly satisfied with where we are and what we have at the moment. But each season goes so quickly, and it doesn’t come back again.
“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14
We have to learn to be content with each season of life, like Paul was in Philippians 4:12-13. “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
When we learn to enjoy and appreciate the season we are currently in, it allows us to live in complete peace and contentment, the way Paul describes. There will be many seasons of your life that you enjoy every moment and find blessing after blessing in. Then, there will be seasons where you feel as if each day drags on and on–where you feel lost, lonely and as if you will stay hidden forever.
Let the promise of changing seasons give you hope when you feel as if you can’t move forward. Each season in life will pass and bring a new one in exchange. Choose to find the best in every situation and enjoy every moment–for the moments pass so quickly!
With you from this season to the next.
XO-
Sabrina