“May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you [filling your heart with the spiritual well-being and serenity experienced by those who walk closely with God].” (Jude 1:2 AMP)
This past weekend we drove to south of Nashville, TN to attend my cousin’s wedding. For both the bride and the groom this was a second wedding and at the reception I talked with her about the last few years of her life. Her first husband struggled with mental illness and alcoholism; eventually the marriage was destroyed. She spent at least 7 years getting her life together and raising her two boys, now college-aged young men. We were talking about the seasons of life and she mentioned that the season around her divorce was very difficult. She didn’t know at the time how very painful it was. I remembered a season in my life that was also very challenging and, at the time, I didn’t realize how much it would take to heal from that “winter season.”
Today I realized that not only can we struggle to have perspective in “winter seasons” of life, but in the “summer seasons” we may miss the fullness of its beauty, wonder, and joy. Do we realize when winter is melting, spring has started new growth, and we truly are living the abundant life? When life is good we may feel relief that life is no longer bad or fear that life may worsen, or we may be distracted by many beautiful, energetic, and happy events. Realistically, one season of life will flow into another, maybe not with the predictability of the weather seasons, but the journey of life will move us forward. Our summer season now will likely turn to a winter and then, eventually, that winter back to summer. For my cousin, the long “winter” season gradually gave way for a beautiful “summer” season filled with joy and hope as she enters a new marriage with a wonderful man.
No matter what season of life we are in, let us remember two things.
One, we can and should be aware of beauty, wonder, gifts, and blessings and give God thanks for those things.
And, two, we can and should remember that – no matter what – God is faithful to us and walks with us.
El Shaddai, God Almighty,
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! We take refuge in the shadow of your wings and feast on the abundance of your house. You are the fountain of life and in your Light we see light. Thank you that your mercy-love is limitless and your faithfulness is infinite. Thank you that no matter what “season” of life we are in, we may gaze on your beauty, dwell in your house, and find rest for our souls as we walk in your good ways. Thank you for the abundant life you have called us to and help us remember to thank and praise you, no matter the season, for the gifts, graces, beauty, wonder, and blessings of that time. May your mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to us, filling our hearts with spiritual well-being and serenity as we walk closely with our God. We ask this in the strong name of Christ, Amen.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)
“This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16 NIV)
“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 NIV)
“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.” (Psalm 36:7-9 NIV)
“But you, O Lord, your mercy-seat love is limitless, reaching higher than the highest heavens. Your great faithfulness is infinite, stretching over the whole earth.” (Psalm 36:5 TPT)
“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—
A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to keep silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 AMP)