Seasons

I am sitting in the quiet of the morning, drinking a cup of tea.  Oops, Rene' just got up...could still be quiet for a bit, she's not much of a morning person.  ;)  Anyway, I have been thinking about how life can change.  In Ecclesiastes Solomon talks about seasons.  

There have been quite a few seasons in my life already.  Some I would have rather not walked through, some were awesome and I didn't want it to end.  Did you ever try to go back to a great season and it not be the same?  Soo disappointing!  I think that can be a hard lesson...let it be great, but move on.  Letting go of anything can be hard.  

We can carry our seasons out longer than they are meant to be and instead of growing and learning through them, we become toxic.  I have seen, as well as experienced in own life, that we can get our identity or sense of belonging in what we are going through.  We can wear our suffering like a shroud or a badge and let it effect every relationship and circumstance.  Even when God has given us a way out, we decide to stay where it's familiar and comfortable.  We may hate it, but we are afraid to leave.

On the flip side, we can live in a victory or a defining moment from God and not challenge ourselves where we are now.  It is easier to live in the glory of the past.  We are called to be Christlike, I know I haven't achieved that and I haven't met anyone else who did (although, some kinda thought so).  It is a life-long process that requires us to continually be teachable and obedient.  Again, not always fun, but we can't build a house there and keep dusting off the trophies of old victories. 

I have heard people say that each experience has made them who they are.  While I think there is some truth to that, I know that before I really started letting God change me and use each season in my life, who I was wasn't that great.  Even as Christians, we can be fooled into thinking that we know how to navigate the trials.  We know what to do and say.  But in being the "Professional Christian" we miss out on what God is trying to do. 

I have struggled with insecurity and needing the approval of everyone.  Well, that's never gonna happen!  That combined with fear is crippling.  I had some really good reasons for those, thanks to life, but God doesn't want us crippled and ineffective.  That's Satan's plan.  

With each new season, I have an opportunity to go back and allow those things to take over.  The exciting thing is I also have the opportunity not to!  God gets the glory in my life each time I choose to walk in who I am in Him and what He has called me to.  I do not have to let who I was define who I am.  Even if noone knows, but me, God and Satan.

So, while some seasons may suck and some are awesome, each are useful in our lives to accomplish the goal of making is Christlike.  Let's walk through each one, learn what we need to and move on to the next one.  Oh, and who else is thankful for times of rest?!?  

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?  That kind of persuasion does not come from the One who calls you." Galatians 5:7&8

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6

 I pray that in whatever season you are in, you learn something new about yourself, about God and about who you are in Him.  I pray that you leave that season with grace and a renewed sense of purpose.  

Have a fab day!
All my love~
Jodi xo