Endless Winter

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" -Ecclesiastes 3:1 

What do we do when a season lingers? When we thought we were coming to a close of a season just for it to rear it’s ugly head again. For those who have been experiencing this never ending winter season this year you know what I mean. Winter is usually one of my favorite seasons second to Fall. However this winter has been dragging on for what feels like forever. Every time we think spring is coming it shows it’s face for a few days then reverts back to winter weather.

This can often be like our seasons in life. We go through a wilderness season full of growth and pain while waiting for the season to be over. Then we have those spurts of joyful seasons where we think we are out of the woods just to fall right back into the wild, winter season. It’s frustrating because we feel like there’s something wrong with us. We ask, “Why haven’t I learned that thing God’s been trying to teach me? Why is that temptation so easy to fall back into? Why can’t I just let go of that person/ thing?” And it feels never ending. Trust me I’ve been there. I went through a season of ups and downs in the wilderness for over 4 years with God. It was full of growth and moments of joy. But also full of moments of pain, hurt and feeling stuck.

I wrestled with God a lot and just wanted to reach a new place with Him. What I didn’t realize is that there was more taking place in that season than I could’ve ever seen when I was in the midst of it. I thought about this the other day while driving through my neighborhood. The trees were full of new life as the leaves reappeared. I realized that I never saw the growth happening because I wasn’t paying much attention. But yet there it stood with growth, going from death to life, but in my eyes it looked like it happened overnight. I didn’t notice the little buds or the tiny leaves, I just looked one day and it was green again.

Often our lives can be like this in our winter season. We feel like it’ll never end and we aren’t growing and one day we enter a new season unbeknownst to the world around us. We are full of life again and on a new level of trusting God and what we thought was going to kill us only made us stronger (Kelly Clarkson anyone?).

So as much as that winter season can be hard and the little flashes of spring can be discouraging not knowing if it’s going to stay or not, keep hanging in there. Keep hoping because God is moving in ways you could never imagine. Keep being faithful and obedient and make the most of the season you’re in now. A new season is coming and it will happen before you know it.

"Though the winter is long even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come"
-Seasons, Hillsong

Father, thank you for being constant no matter the season I'm going through right now. I know You have a plan through every season. I ask for You to show me areas of growth in this season and areas of focus. Show me how to do Your will right where I'm at and give me strength to carry on when I get frustrated or tired of my season. Show me how You are moving here and now. In Jesus Name, Amen.