Seasons

As you read this blog I’m in the midst of traveling from one season to another in 21 hours. Leaving behind an absolutely fabulous fall in Colorado and set to land in a stunning South African spring. Truly amazing to experience two opposite seasons in less than a day.

Lately I’ve been ruminating on the various seasons in life. At times we sense the presence of God singing over us in brilliant ways, such as new life of a Spring day or the radiant hues sparkling off the trees in the fall. But then there is a dark cold winter or the parching summer where the Father’s voice seems nonexistent or a distant memory.

A few weeks back I met with friend and Oceans team member Mike Verkaik to plan and pray for our next season of ministry. We decided to meet at Bible Park, near a childhood home where I grew up in Colorado. I’m not sure if this was the best place to meet as I kept sharing memories of the park from football games, to tree houses and rope swings, to inner tubing on the High Line canal, and a bunch of other great memories.

As Mike and I spent sometime praying I couldn’t help but think about all the different seasons that transpired during that time of my life. There were some long winter seasons where I wondered if the darkness would ever end and God seemed to be on a long vacation. I will never forget during one of those times seeking solace in the park with my best buddy, my dog Muffy.

Muffy didn’t need a leash when we escaped to the park together, but on that day she saw my mom on the other side of the street and dashed across. The image and the sound of a car hitting her still pains my heart. The next day was Thanksgiving and there was no joyful celebration in our household, just another chill of what seemed like a never ending winter.

But a few years later Spring broke through on a Sunday night when for the first time in my life I heard my Savior sing over me at the altar of our church. I vividly recall being awake the entire night in my bedroom crying tears of joy as the Father found me in my darkness and brought me to the light of His Son.

As these seasons flashed through my mind during our prayer time at Bible Park, the word “faithful” came out of my mouth. I took a deep breath and felt an expected sense of joy. My Father used it all. Each season in the house across from the park reminded me that He was with me. And He was with me once again in Bible Park as I prayed with a good friend about ministry, a ministry I would have never been involved in if it wasn’t for all the seasons He carried me through. Ah His faithful love was there all the time, making and molding me to be more like Him.

I’m not sure what season you may be in. If it’s a wonderful spiritual season of Spring or Fall and it’s beautiful, praise God for the gift of experiencing Him singing over you. But perhaps you are in a wilderness and spiritually wilting or lost in the dark night of a long and cold winter. If that is you take heart, keep hoping and listening for a faithful Father who is carrying you in this difficulty, His love song will break through. And one day you will look back and see He used every heartache, every deep pain and hurt to bring you ever closer to Home; His place of love for you…….which is the greatest gift of all.

“The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zep. 3:17