“To everything there is a season.”
“Life is seasonal.”
“Embrace the current season of your life and the opportunities it brings.”
“For today you are responsible.”
You’re in a season, I’m in a season, all God’s children are in a season. What’s happening in yours? Mine involves a lot of deconstruction. Deconstruction of walls I’ve carefully but mostly subconsciously built and with the fragmenting wall has come the revealing of paralyzing insecurities and deep wounds that for some reason I’ve buried, along with lesson after lesson on how to accept love and grace.
Pain is a constant thing, these days. And I’m learning not to run from it. (I pray that’s true.)
From their album “The Struggle,” Tenth Avenue North has a song “Don’t Stop the Madness,” and whoa. So good. Verse two has become one of my anthems:
All I hear is what they’re selling me
That God is love, He isn’t suffering
And what you need’s a little faith and prosperity
But, oh my God, I know there’s more than this
If You promise pain it can’t be meaningless
So make me poor if that’s the price for freedom
Maybe you’re in a season of hurt too. Maybe, like this new autumn season that we’re in, it feels like there’s a lot of death occurring, maybe death to dreams and plans or even people or maybe just death to this sick flesh we love so much. Maybe it feels as though your beautiful leaves are changing and dying and you just want the changes to stop. Maybe you’re learning to embrace the cooler temperatures and cloudy skies in this season, even though it feels like the warm sun is far from you. Maybe your season involves lots of happiness and bliss and you’re trying to savor every second. Or maybe you are painstakingly and determinedly fighting for joy for this moment, forcing yourself to breathe in grace and exhale praise regardless of emotions or circumstances.
Whatever the season, whatever the feelings that accompany it, may I speak truth into your soul (as I speak it into mine) for one minute?
This season is not a mistake.
It is not, nor will it be, wasted.
God is with you.
He is not surprised by what’s happening, in fact He designed it to lead you into a greater dependence on Him.
To the beautiful soul reading this and to my own heart, I beg you: do not resist this season. It is not only right, it’s good. It is for your joy. It is for God’s glory. It is for the good of all around you. It is a life-giving season.
The death of leaves in the fall makes way for new growth and abundant beauty in the spring.
Look for spring. Anticipate the glory that’s coming, glory that cannot be compared to the light momentary afflictions we are currently experiencing. Hope in the Lord, oh my soul, and bless Him, forgetting not one of His benefits. He withholds nothing good from (and gives only good to) those who walk uprightly. He is for you, not against you. Look at the cross. Remember His love. Accept it. Swim in it. Breathe it in.
He promised pain. It can’t be meaningless.
“…Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.” -Isaiah 50:10b
Sophie Miller 
Whoa. Thanks Sophie. It’s like you’re always feeling me. Spot on. This season is so painful. I keep telling myself not to resist press in, but pressing in is way harder than I ever thought.
AND. My mom just reminded me of John 15:2 which says, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Pruning is painful, BUT for our good and ultimately His glory.
Girl. It’s like we’re heart twins. Praise for God knowing exactly what we need. “I keep telling myself not to resist press in, but pressing in is way harder than I ever thought.” YES. YES. A THOUSAND TIMES YES. Oh my wordddd. Lord, help. And yessss, that verse! Praise that God desires to 1) reveal Himself to us and 2) call us deeper and deeper into His love for His exaltation and our JOY. Let’s not resist the love or the joy, even though it’s TERRIFYING. Love youuuuu!