By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
“And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.” (Genesis 1:14-15)
I’m not one who particularly likes change. I tend to hang on to things long past the time when God has made it clear the end is in sight. At the end of a really good movie, I like to linger until each credit rolls past the screen. When a bible study ends, I anxiously await for the next one to begin. As my children mature, I mourn for the days when they were little, dependent on me for their care. Relationships are especially difficult to let go – it’s where I struggle the most.
Change is eminent. It will come whether we like it or not. In the same way that autumn leads to winter, seasons of change must come and go to transition our lives to the place where God is directing us next.
I love the brilliantly colored leaves, the crisp air and the clear blue skies of fall, but I dread the cold, dreary days of winter. The long, dark nights and lifeless trees make winter difficult to endure. And yet, without the dead of winter, we cannot fully appreciate and experience the newness of spring.
“He changes times and seasons…” (Daniel 2:21)
One season leads to another and each offers prized moments unique to its own.
Even though winter is my least favorite time of year, I must admit there are moments I treasure during this time. I enjoy snuggling under a warm blanket while reading a good book. I relish Sundays spent with family and friends watching football, while a pot of chili simmers on the stove. I love the way a fresh snowfall transforms the drab of winter into a dazzling white landscape. I suppose winter isn’t all bad.
Instead of mourning what was lost, we need to embrace what God has ahead. A new season brings new challenges and opportunities for growth. Until we are called to our heavenly home, rest assured that God has a plan, and it most certainly involves change!
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)
We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds our future.
