The Importance of Seasons

Hi, its been a while since I last wrote here, but I promise I will try and get better. A lot of things have occurred since February, but I can't wait to get back with this blogging thing. Once again it was my mom's friend who asked me when I was writing another post..."Bethany, when are you going to start your blog again, your words are sweet like honey to my soul. You truly know how to put all the misery and mundane-ness of life into a beautiful picture that always portrays Christ." Woah, thanks for the jolting of my mind & the sly rock-n-roll reference in your affirmation to me :) But to be honest, I really hadn't thought about it lately since I've been filling up journals left and right but what she said got me thinking. I truly know from experience that we all go through certain things in this journey, it might be good and it might be bad but it all works together in a way that is ultimately going to make you look more like Christ; so why not share them? I've learned that even when I feel like I'm alone in my journey and might be the only one going through it (the enemy likes to tell me that lie) that eventually when I share it or rejoice that I made it through on my hands and knees, that there was someone beside me along the way that is going through the exact thing. So here's some encouragement, when you are on this journey and feel like the enemy has jumped on your back and that you're in this place alone, I encourage you to just share it with someone! I don't think I've ever met someone who isn't open to hear your struggles and victories because not only does it encourage and strengthen the body of believers around you, it once again faithfully confirms that the joining of the saints is an incredible way to beat the enemy. So I digress, all of that to say I've been in a season this past couple of months and looking back, it has all started to make sense...questions and all.

This has been my thought process in the recent months - "This season kinda sucks. I can't wait for it to be over and step into the next one."

What's the problem with this? I am not being present in my current season. I feel like a lot of the time, we are quick to name the current season we are in as "the toughest season" thus far; but ever season of life is going to have its struggles and its triumphs.

God works in ways sometimes that we can't understand. It is so important to keeo yourself present in the season that God has you in.

In the winter, do you think that the trees are anxious they will ever grow leaves again? They are so rooted and grounded, they know they are going to bloom again. They don't question if they'll have leaves again, they just know because that's how it has always happened. They get the necessity of seasons (fruitfulness & barrenness) and know that one must occur for the other one to follow.

But in the seasons that feel like winter, when everything is dry and barren, remember when your roots are held, If you are rooted in Christ, you don't have to question if you will bloom again. There is a reason that God has you in the season you are in currently. He wants to do something and teach you something through it. if you fixate on the season to come and not your present season, you will miss out on the things He has for you now. & what He teaches you in this season is preparing you for next season...He's merely equipping you for the next step of your journey.

So no matter how dry and barren your current season feels, root yourself in God and His promises that harvest time is coming. Even when you have no idea what is going on, don't fear because we know who our Father is. Turn your affections to Him, let everything go that is holding you back and take advantage of the place you are in.

"You might not know what He is doing but you know who He is."

Be Blessed.

And again...I will put my trust in Him.

I’m finding that it’s more important to trust God, to choose to put my faith and hope in Him, than to understand as much as I think I need to. A lot of the questions I bring to God are seeking to understand something that happened that I don’t understand, a present continuing situation or wanting to know what will happen. I want to know things things so I can have peace about them. So I can be okay with them. These are things that are already past or out of my control; but I still want to make sense of them. 

I ask “why?” and “when?” a lot. I always want to understand ‘life’ and its events. But the one thing that is most important for me to know is actually Him. I can not understand the past fully and still be at peace knowing He is Sovereign, good, knows and wants what is best for me and others. I can not know the future from the point I am standing and still be at peace knowing He is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving. Knowing Him brings me peace.

For every question in my heart or mind, He is the answer.

So no matter what has happened, no matter what is happening currently,  no matter what is to come, and no matter what I do not understand or know presently, I know Him. And because I know Him, I have peace. I can put my trust in Him, and have faith in Him because I know Who my life and heart belong to.

Paul, when he was being persecuted for preaching Christ, wrote that because of that he suffered, but he was not ashamed, because, he said: “I know Whom I have believed.” Paul also had a confidence that God would guard what he entrusted to Him. We can believe in Him and have confidence with all we trust Him with. Anything I’ve laid in His hands -my life, my heart, everything that comes with giving Him all of me- I know is in the hands of Someone who loves me and who is good. I know Who I am trusting, even if I do not know specifically what will happen with what I am trusting Him with. 

When I ask Him “Why?” about the past, heartbroken over something I do not understand (and may never), He answers me, “Do you trust Me?”

When I tell Him, “I don’t really understand why things are like this right now” He answers, “Do you trust Me?”

When I look at my future and admit, “I have no idea what is going to happen, what are You doing?” He answers, “Do you trust Me?”

Do I trust Him? 

That is the question that needs answered most.

In trusting God, we have to choose to trust Him every day all over again, for each and every question. We have to see Him as the answer. 

I will choose to trust Him. Because for me, trusting God is part of loving God. I think when I trust Him, I show Him love. Because I love Him, I trust Him. If you give your life to Him, you gotta trust Him. If you let Him lead you, you have to trust Him. Even if you don’t know all that He does, or what He will do. You have to take His hand and say, “I trust Your judgement. I trust Your leadership, I will follow You to the end, I trust You.” There is no reason not to. He’s never going to fail, He’s never going to choose the wrong thing. I know who I am believing in, and I trust Him.

Even so...it is well.

It's 2015 and here I am with more love for You than ever before. Your love humbles me. Your grace amazes me. Your favor blesses me. Your mercy surprises me. Your hand upholds me. Your word comforts me. Your glory shines on me. Your humor reminds me of the joy that never leaves. Your plan for my life never ceases to amaze me.

That plan...it's beautiful, sometimes messy when my flesh gets in the way. I try to understand when you are beckoning me to just trust You. And it's everything I need but not always what I want. But you're a faithful Father, steadfast teacher, confident leader, constant friend, forever faithful, supernaturally loving...and the Saviour that I want to do live with for eternity. You're good and understanding.

In 2015, I'm believing for promises fulfilled, supernatural encounters, new levels reached with you and questions brought to light. This life is such an adventure with you and even though 2014 didn't look like what I "thought" it would or should...it looked and was fulfilled in the exact way that you had always planned. And that's what makes me look back over this year with more thankfulness in my heart that I could ever describe with words. I'm in awe of your greatness and so humbled that I've been chosen to live this life. I can only pray and strive that I even scratch the surface of being as constant in our relationship in 2015 than you have been with me for my entire life.

So Abba, help me to always remember that giving you my hopes, dreams and heart will be worth it all. I've never regretted it in the past and I could never in the future. Let me love you more in all that I do. Give me more kindness to exude. Understanding. Love. Steadfastness. Trust. In all things. And at the end of the day, if and when I fail and come to you, remind me of my hearts cry... Not my will but Yours. Your plan will always be well with my soul.

May this next year bring me closer to Christ and further away from the passions that would steal me and my attention away from Him.

"The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering or responsibility]!" Habakkuk 3:19