A Reason for Every Season

 

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:11

 

For the past few months, I have been taking a walk around my neighborhood every morning. It is my morning medicine. I walk through the nearby park and through my neighborhood, enjoying the fresh air, nature and the landscape. Most days during the summer months have been sunny and warm. I pause at times and look up at the blue sky and breathe deeply--thankful to God for a beautiful day.

Today it was raining, the sky was gray and the weather was cool—a hint of fall in the air. I still decided to put on my jacket, grab an umbrella and go for a walk in the rain. As I walked and the wind was high and the rain pelted me at times, I thought about how every day is not beautiful blue skies, but every day God shows himself and His power.

The wind in my face, the rain that waters the ground, the changing, falling leaves are all testament of God’s glory. There is beauty in every season. Even the season of winter when it seems like everything is dead and it is cold and dark outside. There are also difficulties in every season, whether it is extreme heat and drought or mosquitoes or floods, storms and bitter cold.

There is also a reason for every season. Sometimes it is a time for planting and cultivating. Sometimes it is a season of growth. Sometimes it is a time for harvest—for gathering and reaping. Sometimes it is winter and everything seems dead. I’m not a biologist but I wouldn’t be surprised if in those seemingly dead times, God is giving rest so that life can continue to produce. Even in the tropical climate of Ghana in West Africa where our family spent months and it is hot every day there are still seasons-- rainy and dry. Every season has its purpose to continue the circle of life. 

For every season, He gives us the armor that we need—the appropriate attire—to endure, survive and thrive in that season.

As I walked in the rain this morning, I thanked God for the seasons and asked Him to let me see Him in and be thankful every one of them—even the ones that don’t feel as good as the sunny blue sky days.

Maybe you’re in the season of raising children or maybe you are entering a season of an empty nest. Perhaps you are in a dry season or maybe a season of harvesting the many seeds you sowed in another season. Perhaps this is a season of suffering and separation. Or maybe it is a time of joy and celebration.

Whatever the season, know that God is with you, that there is beauty in every season and seasons change, but God stays the same. Remember even if we don’t understand how it all works or what is going on that He is working it out for our good and His Glory. He’s providing us with what we need and giving us seed so we can bless somebody else and then they can do the same.

There’s a reason for every season.

At the Well

 At the well.

God sees me. God hears me. God loves me.

This is a refrain that has been constantly through my prayers for the last five years.

God has let me know in very real way that He—the God of the Universe, the Creator, the Great I AM—sees little old me. That He hears my prayers. That He cares.

Like Hagar who met God at a desperate place, a desolate place, God has proven Himself over and over to me that He is the God who sees me.

As the old saints used to say, “I just can’t tell it all…” But I know that God has called me to tell it. To testify, to edify, to encourage others. To let others know that He has also heard their cry. That He sees you. He hears you. He loves you.

Yesterday, my brother, Pastor K. Edward Copeland, taught a Sunday School lesson on “Well Theology: The Theology of Thirst” and spoke on how God met Hagar at the well in the book of Genesis twice during her time of desperation, anxiety, hopelessness.

God spoke to me that it was time to go to this space, At the Well, again and write.

The “Well Theology” lesson reminds us that God sees us, He hears us and He loves us. He meets us at the well—at our point of need and gives us more than we bargain for. And He blesses us not just for us but for our children, and their children and their children. For our posterity. The greatest blessing is His Presence.

After Sunday school, my morning devotional reading from “Jesus Calling” was about Hagar. Talk about confirmation.

“There is no place so desolate that you cannot find Me there…No set of circumstances could ever isolate you from My loving Presence. Not only do I see you always; I see you as a redeemed saint, gloriously radiant in My righteousness.”

Then the Sunday sermon was “Restoration is on the Way.”

God is restoring me at the well—literally and figuratively. He’s resurrecting dead things. He’s healing. He’s working it out for my good because I love Him and I am calling on His Name.

Take courage today. God sees everything. He knows everything. He is with you. He is living Water. He will give you what you need at the well.