Change of Seasons — A LifeWords Devotion

For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace. (NLT)

Change in our seasons of life has been likened to a trapeze act. The trapeze artist lets go of one bar before taking hold of the other bar coming towards them. There is that moment when there is nothing to take hold of. But unless the artist lets go of one bar, they cannot take hold of another.

When we experience a change of season it can seem like that. We need to let go of one place, one relationship, one church, one ministry, one health situation. And we are not quite sure of what lies ahead. It can seem like we are suspended in mid-air without support.

But clinging to a season that has gone is futile. Our life does not move back, it moves forward. As the old saying goes, Don’t look back, you aren’t going that way. By stubbornly refusing to move on we may be missing what God has for us in the future.

We cannot freeze time. That season you have enjoyed so much may end but that doesn’t mean the end of joy, just that joy may have a different shape. And more positively, that season of pain and sadness you endure will not go on forever. A new season will come.

We can’t refuse change. We can only trust in an unchanging God to help us not only bear the change but embrace the change.

Blessings
David