Next Season
He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. Daniel 2:21a
Did you notice how quickly the trees and coffee cups turned orange this year? Fall has scared the living daylight out of summer, and your garden’s veggies have lost all hope of ripening. The crisp air and short days of autumn command us to be content with what came from the fleeting growing season. Harvest is complete, and it’s time to go inside.
Changing seasons challenge us to follow God on new paths. We completed the summer path, now we’re trekking the fall trail, and God is ready to teach us how to walk with him in a new way. Why not spend time remembering what we have learned so we can be prepared for what’s ahead? Please indulge a short, reflective stroll with me.
The Season of Long Days
As I look behind me, I see about five or six years of long days. Starting around the time COVID-19 arrived, everything got more difficult in my life. The church, my kids, and my job started demanding more time and energy. I faced many trials, and now, as I look back, I’m in awe of how God brought me through them all. It reminds me of how the miserable days of summer wildfire smoke magically morph into fresh air when fall arrives. Those days were so hard, but thank God, I can finally breathe again!
Uncompleted Goals
But just as new tomatoes on the vine missed their chance to redden, I fret about unfinished tasks. Half of my children became adults during the season of long days. Did I do enough to prepare them for the real world? Did I teach them how to be true followers of Christ? It remains to be seen. In the busyness of the season, I’m sure I missed some important growth opportunities, but was what I did enough?
Contentment
Despite the deep sense of loss I feel as the days grow darker, I know there is great benefit in being content with last season’s harvest. I remember all the good fruit produced in the summer: camping trips, baseball games, and quality time with friends and family. My business finally produced a profit, which was awfully uncertain during those years of long days.
Because of the recent business success, I’m in a new season of being able to extend generosity in ways I hadn’t been able to do in prior years. In the season of long days, God taught me lessons from Philippians 3 about the profitability of knowing Christ and sharing in his suffering. In this new season of worldly abundance, God is teaching me lessons from 1 Timothy 6:17-18:
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
New season, new lessons to learn. New paths, new journeys with the Savior. Autumn is a wonderful time of year, but I think the real joy is experiencing the change in seasons. Reflect on and learn from the past, and welcome the road ahead.
I’d love to hear your reflections of changing seasons. Send them to blog@foundrybend.org!
Here’s one of my favorite songs about changing seasons. Enjoy!
