What comes to mind when you think about seasons? It very
well may be the beautiful colors of fall or the glistening of freshly fallen
snow or the excitement of new growth or the wonder found in the freedom summer
holds. In Georgia we like to pack all four seasons into one week because if we are
honest, the majority of the year is spent slinking around the fiery gates of
hell. If there is one thing South Georgia knows how to do, it is HEAT. We don’t really have clear-cut seasons or at least our seasons don’t last longer than a little
while -- maybe a few weeks. Okay, okay, a few days. Maybe that’s why I have been struggling
with the idea of seasons lately. Maybe I believe I am supposed to remain in the
same season ALL the time, but I’m NOT. I don’t think I was ever supposed to. I
am learning that. More.Every.Single.Day. And you know, I am okay with seasons ending and new ones
beginning. However, it took me a quick second to be okay with it, but my eyes are focused on God’s timing and planning more clearly now.
He’s perfect y’all!
I am a firm believer God places us in situations or locations
or around certain people for a season. Those seasons may be like summer in Georgia. You may flourish in that one particular season for an extended period of time,
but then again it may be like winter in Georgia. You may only be in that season
for a brief moment because He needs you elsewhere.
I REALLY struggle with my life calling or purpose. I bet you know people who knew they were
called to be a preacher, teacher, doctor, housewife or whatever since they were
like 10. Well, I am not those kinda people. I never felt called to a specific profession
per se. I didn’t become a teacher for education’s sake. Instead, I used my
placement in the education field as an opportunity to minister, and if I am
honest, to be ministered to. When I left teaching college to enter into a
public high school, I was doing it more to be on a schedule with my own
children than to follow a call, but I immediately fell into the exact season
God needed me. I was exactly in the place God wanted me ministering to the
exact people God divinely placed in my path. I was absolutely undeniably where
I was supposed to be. It was perfect!! Well, it was perfect until it wasn’t.
During my last year at the high school, unhappiness crept all over me almost
becoming palpable. I no longer wanted to be at the high school. My joy was
slowly being depleted. I was hurting. I was hesitant. I wasn't sure I wanted to remain.
Was I just being selfish? Was I allowing Satan to trump the
Savior? Wasn’t I following God’s call on my life? If I left, would I be being
disobedient to God? I grappled with my wanting to leave. Why would my joy leave
if I was supposed to be there? Why would God take away that joy? Maybe God didn’t
take it away? Maybe it was hijacked?? I just didn’t know, but I did leave the high
school and headed to the elementary school. I wasn’t certain I was doing the
right thing. I still grapple with that decision.
However, looking back I believe it is very simple…the season
ended. I had done the work that was needed for that particular harvest. What is
even better now that I can look back is that I realize that just because a
season ends doesn’t mean the season is forever over. Seasons offer rebirth and
renewal each and every year. Isn’t that an amazing concept -- the seasonal ebb
and flow? I very well may end back up at the high school one day,
and I will be perfectly fine if that is where God leads and needs me. He
continues to move me into new places with new missions focusing on new people.
Just as God is in control of the seasons each year, he is in control of the
seasons of time in each of our lives.
I have found that you have people you believe will be in your life forever, who leave. You have people who you never expected to even be in your life become
your forevers. You have people leave and those same people return when the
time is right. God’s timing is perfect y’all! You may feel at home somewhere
and all of a sudden feel like a stranger. So, trust in the journey and seek the
place God has prepared just for you. Don’t for one second believe that God
would ever lead you somewhere that doesn’t set your soul on fire or surround you with people who don't accept and love you for who you are.
“And this is the plan:
At the RIGHT time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ-everything
in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have
received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and he makes everything
work out according to His plan.” Ephesians 1:10-11
God’s got plans for you my dear friend. The people you fall
in love with are there for a purpose. The people who crush your heart are there
for a purpose. The job you adore is there for a purpose. The job you detest…yep…it
has a purpose too. The people who tear you down. The people who build you up. The
strains and burdens. The joys and triumphs. The trials and victories. They were
all put in your path to prepare you for what lies ahead of you.
This morning the preacher spoke of remember when moments. He said, “When you get a victory from God,
remember it because it is in the remembering of that victory our confidence in God
is built.” How absolutely breathtakingly true is that statement!!! I sure needed to hear that
this morning. You have NO idea, but that’s another day and another blog post.
Remember when (see what I did there) I talked about my time
at the high school? You see the ONLY reason I was at that particular church
this morning to hear that particular message I needed to hear is because one of
my favorite people (who happened to be a high school student during my tenure
there) started dating a particular girl who happened to live in another town. She
became and still is one of my favorite people (even though they broke up after
four years L) Anyway…
That particular girl grew up and was helping plant this
particular church in a neighboring town. When she was talking with me about this particular church, I
knew if the other people at this church were anything like her, I needed to experience
it. I am sooooo glad I did because I am certain God has placed me exactly where
I need to be in order to minister to exactly who I need to minister to. See how
He worked all of that out soooo many years ago. Don’t you just love to FEEL the presence?
I am still waiting to see exactly what form this new victory will be for me,
but I am excited to experience it.
So, if you are hesitant about the seasons of your life,
remember God is preparing you! Celebrate this season because like our preacher
said this morning, “God can do much more than you think you can.” Paul tells us
this same thing in Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through
his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish INFINITELY MORE than we might
ask or think.” So, go…Be MORE!!
