In This Season

In This Season

To every thing there is a SEASON, and a TIME to every PURPOSE under the heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV

Description: Understanding and embracing your time and purpose within your current season of life.

I am currently in a position in my life that requires me to love, nurture, and support. I have three young BEAUTIFUL children that require much of my time and energy. I am a wife to a very ambitious and purpose driven husband. I am working towards having a lovely, well kept home (please pray with me on this one ;)). Due to the positions of mother, wife, and homemaker I must be loving, nurturing, and supportive.

While all of that sounds good, I don't think my positions in life sat down to have a conversation with my brain because I was still trying to accomplish dreams of my own. I used to be that career driven, top of my game type individual who wanted nothing more than to excel in my industry. The seasons in my life shifted, but I was still caught up in the previous season. The weather had changed and I was not prepared.

Out of my reluctance to accept the temperature change, I found myself disappointed, unhappy, angry, difficult to be around...just to name a few. It was bad. I knew something was wrong...just hadn't figured out what that something was.

I think the Apostle Paul said it best when he wrote in Philippians Chapter 4 verse 11 "...in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." I couldn't effectively proclaim the gospel to my children in the moods I was in! Caleb is almost six now, not too much gets past him. Children have an interesting knack of recognizing phonies almost immediately.

So, here are some tips that helped me get through changing seasons. I hope they are a blessing to you.

Seasons Change

It's inevitable. Don't fight it. Things change.

Recognize in your life when seasons are about to change. The best way to prepare is to PRAY! Ask God for understanding, patience, and a right spirit to get through the times. Remember that God ultimately knows the why, we don't. Reflect on Romans 8:28:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."

This year, I am saying, "Yes, LORD!" Whatever it is He has for me, I trust that He has it in His hands and I don't need to worry about it! Worrying is not an option.

Value the Time

Have you ever complained so much about a certain season in your life, that when it was over you actually missed it? How CRAZY is that...I'm so guilty. When I was in college, I couldn't wait to graduate and start my true adult life. When adulthood started, I wanted to go back to my college days. It's something about our flesh never being satisfied. That's why I deem it very important to keep our minds on those things spiritual and not carnal. The enemy will try to make any situation look bad.

But there is always some good...lessons to be learned, love to be given, and always opportunities to show someone else grace and mercy as our Lord has shown us.

Embrace your season by valuing your time in that season...for it, too, shall pass. Enjoy yourself. Find joy in the small things, the smiles of your loved ones, the hugs and kisses, the cramped bed when all of your children decide to sleep in your bed... Turn this face -_- into :).

Know Your Purpose

Let's not forget what our purpose is! Each of us has a ministry, depending upon our own specific talents and experiences, with the ultimate purpose of bringing others to Christ. We often get caught up in the things of this world that we forget our purpose. Each season will have its specific purpose for you and your life, but also for the eternal lives of others. Whether we are to learn, act, or simply love in our seasons, it is all for the glory of God and His kingdom.

Solomon ends the famous passage in Ecclesiastes 3 with:

9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

14And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Now, if that doesn't make you happy...I don't know what else will.

Be blessed.