Enduring a Difficult Season
By Kelli Thompson
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
I dreamed of a spring wedding that could be held outdoors among blooming pink blossoms and budding trees. What I received was a wedding party bracing for an out-of-season blizzard in whiteout conditions.
We’ve all held expectations for a time in our lives, preparing for a season of celebration, steadiness, or even turmoil. Creating plans to fill up our comfort buckets, we orchestrate a full script of “and then this will happen, and this …”
Until it doesn’t.
A snowless winter stalls our ski vacation. A cold and wet summer freezes our lake escape. A long-planned wedding is called off. A new pregnancy ends in miscarriage.
Some seasons challenge our spirit to the core. So often, we believe difficult periods are fine, as long as we can plan and manage them. Many times, it’s not the troubling seasons in our life that lead to our greatest struggles; it’s the unexpected surprises that can cause us to lose faith.
Contrary to our understanding, God leaves us surprised and confused when He allows events that seem to happen out of season. We often place expectations on our experiences, forgetting that God doesn’t ask our permission or act according to our understanding. For everything, there is a season—to which I subconsciously add, “So long as I can expect it, plan it, and control it.”
But if I’m always in control, I don’t leave room for God to delight me by delivering His promises, seemingly out of season. A baby when you’ve been told you can’t conceive. A raise and promotion when you believe there’s no opportunity.
“This, too, shall pass” is the comfort we often give in the difficult seasons. Counter-intuitively, it’s also a reminder that keeps us grounded in times of abundance. The waves of constantly changing conditions rarely consult us before they disrupt our calm happiness. Situations are temporary, so faith that anticipates God’s surprises helps us triumph over unplanned circumstances.
Remember, God’s promises often delight us out of season.
Are you bracing for the season or embracing what your season has to offer?
Kelli Thompson is a gifted writer and speaker. First, a wife and mother, God called her out of Corporate America to start a business as a Life & Leadership Coach for women. Kelli loves to share insights about our everyday struggles and practical ideas to access the peace and confidence that God has waiting for us. Learn more at KelliRaeThompson.com.
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Originally published Thursday, 15 August 2024.
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