As we mature, we realize life is all about seasons. Some are longer or shorter than others. Some are filled with unparalleled joy while others are marked by heartache and despair.
There’s no magic pill, wand, or fairy dust to enhance the best or lessen the worst. Seasons are inevitable. They’ll arrive when we least expect them.
About ten years ago, our family endured a lengthy season. It was an unwelcomed time of mourning and loss. It was a time of testing that lasted about four years, although it seemed like forty.
What it meant as a mom: tremendous guilt. Because I couldn’t make my child well.
What it meant as a wife: loss of the fairy-tale. A shifting of priorities to the one who needed me the most at the time.
What it meant as a Christian: bitterness. At God. Because my “normal” had been disrupted.
What it meant as a writer: identity crisis. Recognition that, sometimes, there really were “no words.”
Fast forward several years. That season is behind us now; we’re learning to let go.
Here’s what happened:
- Our child was healed, but not in the way we’d planned, dreamed, or hoped.
- My marriage grew from the ground up. We recently celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary.
- God brought us out of the desert to the cool spring of mercy.
- Though I was rusty, the words returned.
My point?
Tough seasons are the kindling to the fire of our dreams because the sovereignty of God will always outweigh doubt. He’ll come through in ways we least expect–in ways that reveal His true character. He’ll love on His children even when we’re helpless, hopeless, ungrateful, and unworthy. His plan may not coincide with our view of perfection. His way is higher, holier, and Heaven-bound.
Unless we experience the crud of life, we can’t fully enjoy the cream. A platitude, but true. (Still, that doesn’t mean we’ll enjoy difficult seasons. That wouldn’t be realistic.) However, when the next season of perseverance comes, we’ll be better prepared to batten down the hatches and prepare for the ride–all the while knowing that God brought us through the last storm and we persevered. We learned to let go because we had no choice. We made it to the other side.
The other side may not be gravy, but it’ll sustain us until the manna comes.
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How have you grown during your various seasons–good and bad?
Have you let go of something in the past?
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Tremendous posts I’ve come across this week…
For writers:
Sharp Edges. Have you been there?
https://michelecushatt.com/sharp-edges/
For everyone:
Think you’re ordinary? Think again!
https://todaysfreshmanna.wordpress.com/2012/09/05/you-arent-as-ordinary-as-you-think/
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Have a super weekend!
Blessings Always,
Comments 10
Your honesty inspires me, Cynthia. I agree, it isn’t realistic to think we’ll enjoy the rough seasons. It’s also very hard to wrap our heads around the outcomes of the seasons. Thanks for sharing this. 🙂
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Jill, facades are so hard to manage–it’s liberating when we can be the “real deal.”
You inspire me.
I had to let go of some bitterness and anger that was debilitating me. The moment I did let it all go, God opened up an amazing opportunity for me!
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Jess, isn’t it freeing when we can really let go?! I think once all the “junk” is out of the way, God can propel us forward to do greater things for Him.
While I don’t welcome tough times, I’ve noticed that some of my greatest growth has come as a direct result of living through them and learning the lessons the Lord had for me.
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Keli, I was so inspired by the poignant memory you shared on Katie Ganshert’s blog a few months ago. Some of our best lessons learned are through those seasons of hardship.
Cindy – what an inspiring post! I didn’t know of your hardships.
I do think God allows us to walk through those hard times to shape us, make us stronger. We just have to remember that He is right there next to us the entire way.
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Loree, it was a very painful time, but we all endure hardships, don’t we? I so agree with you–God used that season to indeed “grow” our family and our faith is stronger because of our journey.
We definitely grow more during the “bad” seasons.
The longer we walk in our faith, more things (attitudes, doubts, e.g.) are removed, and replaced with better qualities. Who knew that we could cast aside all that hinders, and end up whole?
I like the quote, “When God is all you have, you find He is all you need.”
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Patti, what tremendous insight you share~thank you! (And I love that quote, too.)