Would you go swimming in the river in winter? Would you wear heavy jackets in summer? Would you prune the budding trees in spring? Would green leaves, typically, grow on trees in fall? I think the answer would be no to all of these questions if we are referring to normal places like South Carolina. We know that certain things happen at certain times.
Just like the seasons of change happen with weather and nature, our lives have seasons. Ecclesiastes 3 explains that "For everything there is a season." As we go through life, God allows us to enter into different seasons. He gives us specific times for specific things.
There will be seasons of hurting and stripping down. There will be seasons of healing and joy. We will experience many different seasons that God uses in our growth. He wants us to be more like Him but we can't handle all of the change at once. He slowly changes us, pealing layer after layer, getting us to a point before changing the season to adding layer upon layer.
I like to garden. I usually plant a vegetable garden each year. I know that in order to make the garden grow and produce, I must till the ground, plant the seeds, water the plants and pull the weeds. All of which has it's specific timing in the process. All of those things must be done before I can harvest the crop.
God works the same way. He has to cultivate and give us seasons in order to help us understand Him better and to help us be where we should be within His will. He wants us to produce the best fruit so He allows us to go through the seasons.
Without God in control of our lives, the seasons of stripping can be unbearable. He puts us or allows us to enter the "rough" seasons for growth but promises to be there to carry us through. He doesn't put you in a season that He is not willing to get you through if you depend on Him. In fact, the hard seasons are where He expects that we will call on Him most. When all is stripped away, He knows that there is a good chance (Hopefully) that you will depend on Him. Even the self-imposed rough seasons are His to carry you through.
Although the hard seasons tend to make us need Him more, God wants us to want Him all the time. Why is it that we wait for the tough seasons to call on Him? If the season is bright and cheery, going our way, we tend to neglect our relationship with God. He wants us to want Him through all seasons.
Would you plant and spend time in the garden and walk away as it is producing the crop? No, that would make no sense. Why would you do the hard work and walk away when it's time to harvest? So, why would you abandon your relationship with God when the good times come? That is the best time for really enjoying His presence. It would be like fighting with your spouse and walking away from him/her when they want to kiss and make up. Ha! Who wants to do that?!?
I have learned to really enjoy God through my current season. Yes, it's been one of the "hard" seasons but I know that this season is necessary in order to get to the "harvest". Oh what beauty will be in the harvest! I have felt God really loving on me and helping me through. He has made it really clear that the harvest, from this cultivation, is going to be fabulous.
Whatever season you are in, good, bad, ugly, find the beauty that is God. Trust Him, fully, knowing that He has you there for your good. He wants to cultivate you and make you more like Him. Enjoy the rest that comes with being in the almighty care of the Mighty God. It is a wonderful place to be no matter what season you are in.
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