Changing Seasons

According to my car thermometer, the temperature outside is 107 degrees today, much like every day for the past month. We’ve had twenty-one consecutive days of temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. Temperatures are ten to fifteen degrees above normal in our part of Oklahoma, and many other areas are also suffering from an extreme summer. Many are looking forward to the cooler days of fall. Unfortunately, summer may not end soon, but the calendar and climate of years past give assurance that this heat wave is temporary.

Every season has a purpose whether a time for the earth to produce or to rest and prepare for the next season of harvest. According to Ecclesiastes, seasons can represent different periods in our lives, and those seasons offer time fo growth during difficult periods and time for rest during pleasant periods.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven;
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stone and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

These verses describe many seasons of our existence. Precious babies are born into our lives, and at some point loved ones die. Sometimes homes or relationships are destroyed, but then we rebuild new ones. Some days result in crying while others bring laughter. There will be disheartening moments of grief, but eventually we can dance again. We may go through extended periods of difficulty, but we can be sure that there will also be seasons of peace and joy.

God loves each of us and has a plan for every live created. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) Seasons are part of His plan. If the choice were ours, there would be no intensity in our lives, but those difficult seasons are when we grow and mature. Good times give us a chance to rest and help others through difficult seasons. Knowing there is a purpose for every season can be encouraging as we face the heat of life. Sometimes things don’t work out exactly as we planned because our plans don’t always match up with God’s. Since our lives are all a part of God’s big plan, we can be sure that He is with us through each season no matter how severe. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Remember the difficult times in our lives are only seasons, which means they serve a purpose and are temporary. A season may be difficult as we are experiencing it, but when its over we can often look back and see the beauty that God created during that season.

Famous Oklahoman Will Rogers once said, “If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma, just wait a minute and it’ll change.” I can just hear God saying, “If you don’t like the weather in your life, just wait it’ll change.”