Changes
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” Ecclesiastes 3 :1
Every year living in Redding I try to hold on to the long summer days as long as I can. I love the abundant sunshine that brings hot days splashing in the pool or floating on the crystal blue lakes. It’s heavenly sleeping with the windows open, and the long warm evenings sitting outside watching the clear sky and vibrant stars. I love lightweight cotton clothes and going barefoot. Summer makes me happy.
As fall begins to sneak in, I fight off pulling out the warm clothes and dread the colder days. Maybe I even grumble a little too much about it. Then something amazing happens every year. The trees start changing colors, bringing a breathtaking display of amber gold, crimson red and vibrant orange. The time changes and the night comes early. I shift into being thankful again for the changes and I start anticipating the warm glow of the fireplace, hot pots of homemade soup, fresh bread in the oven, bundling up with cozy clothes and sitting closer to each other to keep warm. The holidays are around the corner and I start to anticipate the joy of Christmas and seeing far away family and being together again.
I think how silly I am to believe that I can stop the changing of the seasons. God is God and He controls everything—the seasons and our lives. Some seasons we are joyful, and some seasons we are mourning. Some seasons we are healthy, and some seasons we are sick and need the touch of our God, the great Healer. Some seasons we are living in abundance, and some seasons we are living in need. Some seasons we are embracing loved ones, and some seasons we are saying goodbye. God knows every season we are in and He cares for all of our personal needs, even before we ask him to help. “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8).
Change is hard sometimes, but change is good for us. Change is where we learn new things, we draw closer to our Lord, and we become more like the women He desires for us to be.
Thank You, Lord, for changing my heart to see that all things You do are for my own good. You change the seasons of our lives and our hearts to keep us longing for more of You.
Needing to hear this today. Yes, God is in control and all is in His capable hands.
Gods timing still amazes me. I really needed to read this today. I have been struggling with saying goodbye to some family members that have moved away, changing my life in a big way and leaving a hole in my heart. Thank you God for reminding me that you will be with me in this season too and that you are here with me in my time of loss and heartache. Change has a purpose and it’s part of your plan.
My heart was grieving in the wee hours of the morning as I read this. Redding has been a part of my life since my late husband’s parents moved there in the early 1960’s, and then, as the years went by, we joined them, but did not stay that long. I moved back 12 years ago, and stayed for 5 beautiful years. LCC was a big part of my joy and I have yet to recapture the love that I experienced being a part of such a beautiful ‘church family’. I treasure those sweet memories and I am grateful for God’s perfect plan and His faithfulness. God Bless you All.