Seasons of weather and seasons of life are beautiful to me. I love to see the transitions of the 4 seasons. The dead of winter, sometimes covered in snow that makes the earth beautiful and surreal. Always followed by the beauty and rebirth of spring with new growth and life. The wonder of summer and the joy of long summer days and adventures. The fall when the temperatures cool off and the leaves blanket the earth after exploding in vivid colors of gold, red, orange and yellow. I love all of it! I relish in the beauty of creation. God’s wonders are something we can see and appreciate each and everyday. His works are wonderful!
Season’s of life are very similar to the seasons of the year. There is death, life, growth, and beauty. We have to be willing to be in the season that life brings us. The only way to grow and thrive is to go through the hard times. God never promised us as christians, a life free from pain and trouble and heartache, in fact, He promises the opposite. He tells us that,“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Most everyone I know has been through difficult times. Hard things, ugly things, hurtful things, physical things, sick things, and devastating things. But we have a choice to make during those hard times. First, remember that this is only a season. We are not expected to like the season. But we are going through it, whether we like it our not, just don’t get stuck in it! Second, we must not become victims of our circumstances. We need to overcome our circumstances. We must make it to the next season, it will come! We must celebrate the new season, when, not if it comes. Third, we must chose joy! Even in the hard times! There is joy in something during these hard times. Seek it out. Embrace it. Cling to it! Somedays it may be the only thing that will get you through! Times of trouble can be overwhelming, but if we only focus on our struggles, we will miss out of so much that life still has to offer us. God will bring you through every season.
“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.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-14
Sowing tears and reaping joy 