Seasons of Life

                                                                                                                                                                             

Aloha Dearest Family,

                I recently read this quote from Cathy Lawton;

                One season or time of day does not tell the whole truth of the garden. Just as one visit in one setting doesn’t tell you all about a person or group of people.

 This quote brought several images to my mind. First, a snap-shot of a garden, months before it blooms. I can clearly see the barren looking ground, the brown hard dirt, perhaps some weeds had sprung up in this empty space. Next, I see this same scene months later. With beautiful, manicured flowers, all of the vibrant colors making this entire garden look alive and flourishing. You could have never guessed what this piece of ground would look like months before. But this is what the seasons of life look like.

                The seasons of life are seen in every part of God’s creation. Not just in the ways of the earth, but of man also. We will all go through different seasons throughout our lives. It is the way God designed it. These following words of Solomon still ring true even today:

                 “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace…He has made everything beautiful in its time…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11a)

                 Most of us who are older, can easily look back on our lives and recognize these “season of life”. But what I have learned through it all, is that in every season we go through, this can also be a season for rejoicing in God Almighty, for it is God who is the designer of life.

                 In Philippians the Apostle Paul mentions that he also had gone through many seasons in his life.

                 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (Philippians 4:11 and 12 NIV)

  Paul says that through his life, there were times when he was in need and there were times when he had plenty. There were times when he was well-fed and times when he was hungry. But Paul says that no matter what circumstance he found himself in, he had learned the secret of being CONTENT. When he wrote these words he was in chains in a Roman prison. How could he have possibly been content with his situation?

                 He writes, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Verse 13)

A better translation of this verse is:

     “I can face any situation or condition for my union with Christ continually infuses me with strength.”

             Like Paul, we can also find strength to endure all of life’s trials because we are united with the one who overcame death. Since we are in union with Jesus Christ, we will be infused with inner strength so that we can overcome ANY situation because it’s not our strength we are relying on – it’s his.

          Every man or woman will go through many seasons through his or her life; and not every season is fun. But every season also brings with it an opportunity for us to grow in our trust in God. He instructs us to rejoice during seasons of suffering and why is that? It is during these times that we can learn and grow with Him and in Him. How? Read His Word. Think His Word. Obey His Word no matter the circumstances surrounding you. Each man or woman makes a choice whether to walk with God during trials or to walk on his own. Only one choice guarantees victory.

     “Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3)

 It is sad when people go through these seasons of life and don’t learn anything. We should learn to rejoice no matter what we are going through (see I Thessalonians 5:16).

     Through every season of life God can always cause us to triumph and grow. Just like a garden, we can never underestimate the ability of God to prosper a man or woman when they trust Him. Because we’ve asked God to be our gardener, our lives can blossom and bloom and produce magnificent, abundant fruit. He is constantly at work cultivating and pruning our lives so that we will show His goodness to the world. So, keep growing. Remember the mighty oak tree was once a little sapling.

                    Love Always, Ray