His Seasons

Written by Allison Erlewine

Just last week, I was sitting on my patio when I realized it was strangely hot to have officially entered Fall. This thought tends to cross my mind every year as the weather shifts from hot to cold, then back to hot again. As I sat there with my coffee, I felt a little disappointed that it wasn’t cooler outside. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to change outfits mid-day because what was comfortably warm in the morning becomes dreadfully hot in the afternoon. After all, seasons are supposed to be predictable, aren’t they? 

Earthly seasons – Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter – come with a general understanding of what the weather will be like. It can be frustrating when Mother Nature doesn’t follow these guidelines and we are left guessing what the day-to-day will be like. If you have ever traveled to the beach only to be rained out during your entire stay, you know exactly the disappointment I’m talking about. What first comes to mind when you think about a beach vacation? Is it thunder, lightning, and red flags in the water? Probably not.

Just like Earthly seasons, our lives have seasons too. What happens when we drag our feet as we enter a new season? How do we handle it when seasons aren’t panning out the way they were supposed to? When the “weather” is ever-changing, and we are left feeling frustrated and disappointed? 

Friend, no matter what season you’re in right now, I invite you to fall in love with Jesus.

While sitting there wishing it were a little cooler outside, I felt a slight breeze. It gave me peace as I watched the yellow leaves blowing from my neighbor’s tree. I will forever be in awe that we serve a God who thought of every detail as he created the world, and continues to let no detail go unattended. If he can manage the changing Earthly seasons with love and awareness, then can you imagine what he can do for you? 

If I had it my way and could snap my fingers to send the hot weather out the door, then the leaves would never get the chance to fall. The cycle of hot-cold-hot-cold is exactly what causes the leaves to turn color and fall from the trees, signaling a time of rest and preparation for their new ones come Spring. However much the hot weather irritates me as I change outfits mid-day, it serves a strong purpose…a purpose and a beautiful outcome that I would have never seen if I were the one calling all the shots.

Life seasons may not always go the way we want them to, either. Just like thunderstorms at the beach or hot weather in October, sometimes the season we are in doesn’t feel perfect or beautiful – but that never changes His perfect and beautiful plans for you. Rest assured that you are loved and thought of, just like the falling leaves and the raindrops in the clouds.

Now, can we take a moment to imagine that weight being lifted from our shoulders? The weight of being in control, the weight of calling all the shots, and the weight of making sure everything goes according to OUR plan…hand over those heavy burdens, sister. They aren’t yours to carry.

God’s got this. God knows what season you are in and is already there. In fact, the Bible talks about there being a season for everything in Ecclesiastes 3. There is purpose in both the ugly storm and the beautiful sunrise. 

Welcome God into this season of life with you. You were chosen for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).