Hey Hey Hey! Long time no talk huh? I really need to do better with this. I feel like those YouTubers who are like "So sorry I haven't posted in a while! I've been so busy with all of my projects and blah blah blah... The link is in the description box below!" hahahaha Well it's another year and so much has happened!
In 2017, and still now, The Lord has been stretching my faith. He started making friends less accessible to me that I relied on for comfort, wisdom, and assurance. He also removed things that I held onto that I made as apart of my identity. Through these actions, I have relied on Him more and put my identity in Him, which has strengthened relationship with Him. I call it, my winter season!
Just as nature has seasons, our life will go through various seasons! In the Spring there is a rebirth; new and fantastic things are happening! Summer can be filled with hope, comfort, stability. Our Autumn will have it's good days but you can sense things are starting to change; what was once familiar and stable is beginning to lose its stability in your life. In the winter, life seems stagnant or dead. Winter is dark, cold and lonely. Nothing new is happening. In fact, it feels like things are being taken way more often than you receiving something. Over time, I've learned that seasons can be from our doing OR God is preparing us for something.
Sometimes our winter season can come when we have not been obedient to God. The Lord will always show you when it's time for you to separate from certain people or things. These are things that you have relied so heavily on for comfort, attention, gratification, purpose, etc. Some people God puts in our life for a period of time, while others should've never made it past "hello". We begin to place our identity in these friends, realtionships, careers, education, etc. We rely on these various things and allow them to fuel our life, yet we don't realize that they are hindering us from living out God's plan and purpose for our life that He created for us! Because of this, The Father will remove them from your life so you can draw to Him for warmth, comfort, and gratification and place your identity in Him alone.
Other times we come into a winter season when The Lord is shaping you for your purpose and something He will need you to do or something He is bringing to you. This could be a new job, relationship, a new place to move to, etc. In this time you may feel lonely and empty and discouraged. It can be confusing, especially when you are striving to live according to His word and nothing "good" is happening. It becomes so easy to lose sight of the greater picture. In this instance we have not necessarilty done anything wrong, He is removing the distractions that can block us from receiving our new leaves! How can new leaves blossom on a tree if the old and dead leaves are still attached to the branches? It's the same way with our life! In order for The Lord to bless you with the new, He may have to prune the the old and dead leaves from your life to make space for the new.
As you feel The Lord taking you through this winter season here are some tips to help you push through this difficult time:
1. Do NOT compare your season to others!
When we are in our winter, it's so easy to look at others and become envious because it looks like they are in Spring or Summer. We ALL will experience a winter season, just at different times. Plus, just because their life may look great, does not mean that God gave them what they have. Be careful to not become envious over things that are not blessed by God.
2. Accept the season that you are in.
Sometimes this process can be prolonged when we fight it by holding onto the dead leaves for our warmth and comfort and not realize what The Lord is trying to do. Once you accept it, you allow The Holy Spirit to transform your mind and really guide your life.
3. Enjoy the season that you are in!
Really take time and learn in this process. There is so much beauty in the winter season if we look around and see how God is transforming our life. We can have joy because we know The Lord is protecting and preparing us! He sees our beauty and our gifts and wants to equip us with the right tools to live out His plan for our life. IT WILL HURT and it won't always be fun, but just remember that you will come out stronger in the end and more prepared for what He has for you!
Regardless of the circumstance of how you ended up in winter, it can be a painful season but it can also be beautiful! It is so hard to let go of what has been familiar and comfortable. For His plans to be fulfilled in our life, however, we may have to go through these rough spots. They are meant to grow and mature us and to strengthen our faith. So if you are in a winter season, as I am, don't be discouraged or afraid! The Lord is with you! If you trust Him, seek His word, and find your comfort in Him, this winter season will get a little warmer.
~Meghan A. Harper