The Guest Room

Today is the first day of fall! I don’t know about you, but this time of year always makes me think deeply about new seasons. I love the fresh start feeling fall brings. I always have. Don’t you remember the way the first day of school felt like a chance to be whoever you wanted to be? As an adult, something about September still makes me want to go out and buy school supplies! Is it just me?!

I think what I love about it most is the way the change of season seems to reflect the state of our hearts while we transition through different years and the stages they bring. Some seasons are ones of personal and spiritual growth, harvest and flourishing. And some are tending seasons… some even weeding… 

I’m not trying to trick you into believing I have a green thumb 😉 but one thing I do know about most fruit is that it only produces in it’s specific season. We get to see this first hand here in Oregon! We just finished a season full of berries (which I look forward to every year!) And now we’re all looking forward to the apple picking! But I’m not going to lie, I’m a little annoyed that I’m going to have to pay more for my berries at the grocery store now! You know what I mean? Changing seasons can feel bitter sweet. You don’t get the apples until the berries are gone. In order to embrace the sweet things that the next season promises to hold, sometimes we have to say goodbye to what we’ve loved so much about the last one. 

Maybe thats how your heart feels as we officially welcome fall. Whether you’re starting school again as a teacher or student, experiencing the exciting, early years with your kids or the later ones and looking towards what’s next for your family. Regardless of what this September means for you; where God’s leading you in work or in your relationships, whatever the circumstances… the same thing that’s exciting about a new season is the same thing that’s scary: It’s full of so many possibilities!… which means so many unknowns!

God is not intimidated by our lack of capacity!

If you’re a planner, like me, this might freak you out a little! But I usually find that it’s my most uncertain seasons, that require the most faith to step into, that are full of the richest growth and blessing because of the degree to which I have to lean on the Lord to walk in them. And that is something that God has been teaching me to value more in the middle of a lot of changes lately. The more I get to know Him, the more I’m learning that God isn’t intimidated by our perception of our capacity (or lack of it!) In fact, His word says that He has “immeasurably more” in mind for us than we could even ask or imagine for ourselves! (Ephesians 3:20) Imagine how different our approach to a new season and all it holds would be if we stopped reacting to it in surprise and instead we started anticipating that the next season will hold immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. Because that’s the nature of an extraordinary life led by God! 

Around this same time last year I wrote one of my very first and most read/shared blog posts to date: “You Were Made For This.” In that post I preached, if Esther can follow God’s call WAY outside her comfort zone and up to the king, surely I can trust Him to come through for me as I follow Him into this new season and what He is calling me to do in it. And just like the pumpkins return in the fall, He’s reminded me of those words that I need in this season more than ever. Maybe you too?!

The secret to peace through changing seasons is believing the promise that God remains the same. (Hebrews 13:8)

The more people I catch up with this month the more obvious it is that, along with all the fun this time of year brings, it tends to bring a whirlwind of change and commitments and busy. It’s overwhelming! But no matter where you land on the madness spectrum or your feelings towards it, there’s one thing I know to be true: God is not surprised by where you are! He has gone there before you and will not leave you! (Deuteronomy 31:8) According to Jeremiah, He had it planned out before you were even born! Like Esther, He has prepared you for such a time as this. And Hebrews 13:21 says He will equip you to do what He’s calling you to do. My prayer is that you walk into this day and into this new season with the boldness of this knowledge: “The seasons change and you change, but the Lord abides evermore the same, and the streams of His love are as deep, as broad and as full as ever.” -Charles Spurgeon.

 If these words encouraged you or made you think of someone who might need to hear them, would you do me a favor and share? Every time you press that Facebook button or email a post to someone or even save to Pinterest, it exponentially increases the ability for the truth of God’s word to be seen by so many more. It blesses me so much every time you do and I SO hope these words blessed you. Happy first day of fall! 🙂