Seasons May Change, but God Doesn’t
"The character of God can anchor us as we navigate anything that comes our way, but we must choose to believe in who He is. Too often we are distracted by all that surrounds us and we lose sight of the One who preserves us."
Although Matt and I are relatively young, we have experienced a rapid succession of seasonal changes in our relationship. College graduation was overshadowed by our wedding a few months later, and we celebrated our second wedded Christmas with the arrival of our firstborn. Pregnancy and the birth of our daughter followed shortly after, and just when we hit a sweet spot, just when we began to thrive, we learned we were expecting our unexpected third child. Our regular pattern of life has consisted of preparing for change, surviving the change, and adjusting to the change. Anticipate, survive, thrive. Repeat.
Survival mode with a preschooler, toddler, and infant lasted longer than we hoped. It was our most difficult season to date. Life felt consistently unstable, and our weakness was overwhelmingly obvious. We needed something to hold on to, to hope in, because we simply were not strong enough on our own. So we grabbed on to truths about God’s unchanging character, which steadied and renewed us. By His grace we are exiting that season with a deeper personal knowledge of Him.
According to the rhythm of our family – anticipate, survive, thrive -- our family is nearing another state of “thriving.” Crossing into a thriving state means life slows down a bit. Difficult circumstances loosen their grip, and there is room to step back and catch our breath.
But as we near this sweet spot, I am hesitant. Let me explain.
God didn’t remove our challenging circumstances immediately, but kept us in that season for a while. One reason I think He did this was to teach me about humility. I needed God to break me down so I would be more aware of my need for His grace. In showing me a new layer of my brokenness, I was able to grow closer to Him because I could see that only He was capable of being my strength in that time. There was no confusion about who was sustaining me in the darkness — it was clear that God was entirely responsible for upholding me.
But in thriving seasons I easily forget who truly is sustaining me. I am blinded by my pride, convinced that I am holding myself together. My fear is that in the upcoming season of thriving I will drift towards the idol of self-sufficiency and distance myself from Christ. Of course, I wouldn’t consciously choose to separate myself from Christ. But in the war zone of my heart I often choose myself and my own selfish desires, even if they lead me away from Christ. The question I must ask in calm seasons and stormy ones is this: is my heart oriented towards God, or towards myself (away from God)?
This question applies to circumstances in the everyday as well. For example, a messy home can easily ignite a spiritual struggle within me. You might have a similar struggle when your job or your life feels disorganized. On days where my heart is oriented towards God, where I have accepted my desperate need for Him in all that I do, my crumb-crusted carpet and finger-smudged windows make me smile. They indicate joy and blessing, and can bring me to tears of thankfulness and contentment. On the other hand, on days where I am only thinking of myself and have neglected to acknowledge my need for God in all that I do, my crumb-crusted carpet and finger-smudged windows bring discouragement. They indicate my failure as a mother and homemaker (how can we live in such mess?), evoking frustration and inevitably bringing me to tears of disappointment. The circumstance (a messy home) is the same on both days, but my heart orientation towards God radically alters how I experience the day.
We can rest assured that our God is always with us. In every season of life and in every circumstance, God will meet us where we are. When my life is turned upside down, God is with me, reminding me that He is my strength and portion (Psalm 73) and my only hope (Psalm 42). When my life is relatively calm, God is with me, reminding me that He remains my strength, portion, and only hope. I am called to rest in Him, depend on Him, and trust in Him at all times. I am never called to rest in, depend on, or trust in myself.
And we can’t forget that although our lives are characterized by changing circumstances and seasons, God’s character never changes. Perpetually He remains good, gracious, faithful, sovereign, loving, just, righteous, and true. The character of God can anchor us as we navigate anything that comes our way, but we must choose to believe in who He is. Too often we are distracted by all that surrounds us and we lose sight of the One who preserves us.
As our family transitions into a milder season of life, may the calm days be marked by humility, and may God continue to extend grace to all of us as we navigate each new season.
"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad." Psalm 34:1-2
Although Matt and I are relatively young, we have experienced a rapid succession of seasonal changes in our relationship. College graduation was overshadowed by our wedding a few months later, and we celebrated our second wedded Christmas with the arrival of our firstborn. Pregnancy and the birth of our daughter followed shortly after, and just when we hit a sweet spot, just when we began to thrive, we learned we were expecting our unexpected third child. Our regular pattern of life has consisted of preparing for change, surviving the change, and adjusting to the change. Anticipate, survive, thrive. Repeat.
Survival mode with a preschooler, toddler, and infant lasted longer than we hoped. It was our most difficult season to date. Life felt consistently unstable, and our weakness was overwhelmingly obvious. We needed something to hold on to, to hope in, because we simply were not strong enough on our own. So we grabbed on to truths about God’s unchanging character, which steadied and renewed us. By His grace we are exiting that season with a deeper personal knowledge of Him.
According to the rhythm of our family – anticipate, survive, thrive -- our family is nearing another state of “thriving.” Crossing into a thriving state means life slows down a bit. Difficult circumstances loosen their grip, and there is room to step back and catch our breath.
But as we near this sweet spot, I am hesitant. Let me explain.
God didn’t remove our challenging circumstances immediately, but kept us in that season for a while. One reason I think He did this was to teach me about humility. I needed God to break me down so I would be more aware of my need for His grace. In showing me a new layer of my brokenness, I was able to grow closer to Him because I could see that only He was capable of being my strength in that time. There was no confusion about who was sustaining me in the darkness — it was clear that God was entirely responsible for upholding me.
But in thriving seasons I easily forget who truly is sustaining me. I am blinded by my pride, convinced that I am holding myself together. My fear is that in the upcoming season of thriving I will drift towards the idol of self-sufficiency and distance myself from Christ. Of course, I wouldn’t consciously choose to separate myself from Christ. But in the war zone of my heart I often choose myself and my own selfish desires, even if they lead me away from Christ. The question I must ask in calm seasons and stormy ones is this: is my heart oriented towards God, or towards myself (away from God)?
This question applies to circumstances in the everyday as well. For example, a messy home can easily ignite a spiritual struggle within me. You might have a similar struggle when your job or your life feels disorganized. On days where my heart is oriented towards God, where I have accepted my desperate need for Him in all that I do, my crumb-crusted carpet and finger-smudged windows make me smile. They indicate joy and blessing, and can bring me to tears of thankfulness and contentment. On the other hand, on days where I am only thinking of myself and have neglected to acknowledge my need for God in all that I do, my crumb-crusted carpet and finger-smudged windows bring discouragement. They indicate my failure as a mother and homemaker (how can we live in such mess?), evoking frustration and inevitably bringing me to tears of disappointment. The circumstance (a messy home) is the same on both days, but my heart orientation towards God radically alters how I experience the day.
We can rest assured that our God is always with us. In every season of life and in every circumstance, God will meet us where we are. When my life is turned upside down, God is with me, reminding me that He is my strength and portion (Psalm 73) and my only hope (Psalm 42). When my life is relatively calm, God is with me, reminding me that He remains my strength, portion, and only hope. I am called to rest in Him, depend on Him, and trust in Him at all times. I am never called to rest in, depend on, or trust in myself.
And we can’t forget that although our lives are characterized by changing circumstances and seasons, God’s character never changes. Perpetually He remains good, gracious, faithful, sovereign, loving, just, righteous, and true. The character of God can anchor us as we navigate anything that comes our way, but we must choose to believe in who He is. Too often we are distracted by all that surrounds us and we lose sight of the One who preserves us.
As our family transitions into a milder season of life, may the calm days be marked by humility, and may God continue to extend grace to all of us as we navigate each new season.
"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad." Psalm 34:1-2
