Another snow and ice storm approaches and the calendar has flipped to March. Did anyone tell Mother Nature that Winter should be waning and not reappearing in full force? Just last week, glimmers of Spring graced many of us with temperatures in the 60s and rain showers complete with thunder. Our demeanor portrays the feeling that this is the winter that will never end. Yet winter is just a season and the calendar is clearly marked – March 20 – The First Day of Spring!
As we prepare for this next winter storm and wait expectantly for spring, I am reminded that our lives are marked by seasons. Time passes as we enter, endure and eventually escape each season that evolves into the next. Seasons marked by events that mold us into who we are and who God hopes us to be.
Seasons of …
hope, loss, love, delight, new birth, faith, family
and whatever else defines you and your journey!
Seasons of delight seem endless- flitting here and there – bringing you joy and buoying your daily walk.
Seasons of love allow your hearts to be filled with all another person has to give and serves as a reminder of the vastness of God’s love.
Seasons of loss are overwhelming and leave a fogginess in their wake – a sense of smothering and uncertainty surround you.
Seasons of hope allow you to wait expectantly for the promise of what will come next.
All seasons have a beginning and an end – all seasons can seem endless as this winter currently feels, but all seasons have a recipe we can follow to endure the immensity of the power of love, hope, delight or loss that the season brings.
God walks along side us each season and is never more than an arm’s length away. We just need to reach out and accept all He provides. Say “yes” to following the recipe and be prescriptive in carving out the time to listen, pray, read God’s Word and be still in His presence. We can do anything for a season especially if that means God is leading us and hanging out with us through all the goodness and messiness.
As you reflect on your season of life and how well you are enduring it or embracing it, here is God’s word to provide for better understanding.
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
My prayer today is that we allow God to ‘season” our current seasons with His grace, love, strength and all that is needed to move forward and embrace the journey.
Blessings,
Mary
Blessed to be linking with:
I think when we grieve our hearts are reminded of the many happy and sad seasons of our lives. So this makes perfect sense that you are contemplating the seasons of life, Mary. I’m grateful for the wisdom God is teaching you in this season and passing along to us. It’s easy to want “Spring” all year ’round! But I suppose that’s not what we need. So I pray that this grieving season would bring peace that blossoms eventually into joy, just like the coming of Spring for all of us. It’s going to get here, maybe not on our timetable, but God will bring that Spring back to you, sweet friend. Hugs and prayers being sent your way!
Your insight and encouragement are a breath of fresh air. You know me well! God sends me His love through the written word and love begs to be shared. If I encouraged one person today because of my journey, I have honored God! Happy Wednesday!
Loved this post – “God walks along side us each season and is never more than an arm’s length away.” Amen! Amen!! Amen!!! And I for one am so grateful for this truth! I am glad that I stopped here this morning from Whimsical Wed. Have a great day!
Blessed you joined me in my little writing world today! God’s reminders are many times answers to our longings and He certainly sends me many reminders each day! Blessings!
Great recipe, Mary! Life is certainly full of all kinds of seasons. And none are better than those walked with God as He seasons us to be more like Jesus. Thanks for linking up to Testimony Tuesday!
So true, Holly! Thanks for bringing your bright smile and encouragement today. Blessings, my friend!