Embracing New Seasons

Lately, I have been discovering the value and the nature of seasons. As fall quickly approaches northern California, I am gaining a deeper appreciation for the crisp and cool air that is near. I can easily be a person that is resistant to change because it can be challenging to leave what is comfortable. However, I am learning to appreciate this change as a natural part of life, and embrace the newness and stretching that it brings.

As I grow more and more in knowing and experiencing the character and nature of who Jesus is, I have gleaned a deeper appreciation for the variety of seasons in life. Similar to the weather changing and shifting from summer to fall, I am feeling the Lord prepare and shape my heart for a new season of living in Kentucky. Even in the midst of so many unknowns, it is such a beautiful experience to withhold the peace of Jesus that surpasses all understanding.

Throughout life, I have notoriously been that person who struggles through the trenches and longs to continually live life on a mountain top. Even before going to college, I wrestled with where I should spend my four years of school. Once I got to Liberty University, I wrestled with what my major should be. After I changed my major FOUR TIMES and finally picked one out of desperation, I felt purposeless. I desperately wanted to know my “passion” and what I was “good at” but no matter what I tried, that “AHA” moment never came. I allowed myself to have a pity party in so many moments because I wasn’t inviting the Lord into the trenches that were in front of me. Instead I was wallowing in my self-consciousness and insecurities. I thought something was genuinely wrong because I didn’t have a plan and I had no answers about my future. I was expecting to always be living on the mountain tops with everything figured out.

The reality is there is no aspect of this life where it suddenly plateaus and then remains on the glorious mountain top. There are always seasons of valleys, inclines, mountain tops, and down hills. Over the past 5 years I have slowly been learning to appreciate all aspects of seasons because it is within the challenges that our weaknesses are made known. This summer has been a greenhouse for the Lord to refine me and prepare my heart for stepping out into real life and being bold for the sake of the Gospel. Ultimately that is my purpose in this life and all the other things such as occupations and passions are simply an avenue to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth. As we choose to surrender the changes and challenges in life, we begin to experience the true nature and character of Jesus.

With this in mind, I encourage you to take some time and do what is life giving for you. Maybe it’s writing out your hopes and dreams and praying through them or maybe it’s getting fresh air and saying yes to what the Lord has placed in front of you. I find that through taking time to do life giving things I gain a steadiness and clarity of mind that comes from the rejuvenation of Jesus.