Greetings,
I like places in the world that have seasons. Oregon has at least three and a half seasons and that is delightful. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in one of the few places on the planet where there are stereotypical, definitive seasons -- like the Winnie the Pooh world with frozen lakes turning to rainy spring clouds, transitioning to golden summer evenings, turning to blustery fall days.
In reality, most of us have a mashup of spring weather in winter and fall weather in summer and sometimes, in Oregon, they all get mixed up and the rain falls whenever it so chooses. Some days you can leave the house dressed in shorts and flip flops and by the end of the day you need a raincoat and pants.
Life is often described in seasons. Each one of us are in various stages or seasons of our lives. Wouldn’t we love to know exactly what our next season will look like? Wouldn’t it be nice if our current season were to play out like they do in the movies, with a happy outcome and everyone smiling at the end of it?
Seasons do sometimes go as expected, but more often than not they are nothing like we imagined they would be. Some of us are in the darkest seasons of our lives -- we dress like summer on the outside but it is a dark and dreary winter day in our soul.
In order to know that someone is struggling in their current season, you need to either know them well enough that they disclose it, or have the Holy Spirit reveal it to you. I sometimes try to imagine the season someone is in and empathize with them. I imagine that the person who just cut me off, spoke rudely to me, or discouraged me is in a dark season.
The great news is that Jesus has provided us with joy abundantly even in the midst of those dark seasons. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (that is, a dark season) I will fear no evil!! What a testimony to the amazing grace of Jesus.
Even while I am in the midst of the darkest season, I can trust in the Lord to be my shield, my strength, my strong tower and loving father to run to and find comfort and peace in His presence. That is tough to do. Sometimes we need some serious encouragement and help to remember the promises of God in Christ. You are a child of God and you are always welcome in His presence. Humbly bring your burden to Him in prayer.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
Love ya,
Chris
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)
Love ya,
Chris
