Tis Only a Season

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!!