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"And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Romans 12:2 (NASB)
What's that I see on the foggy horizon up ahead? Ah, yes, the proverbial fork in the road. Many times in our life we come to a place where we must make hard choices as to which direction we'll go. This-a-way or that-a-way. A popular phrase keeps resurfacing every where I turn lately. Season Of Life. I agree that it's important to reflect upon what "season of life' I'm currently in as I endeavor to discern what my priorities should be. Am I a young mother with little children underfoot? Probably not the most opportune time to try to go back to college. Or am I an "empty nester" trying to figure out what my purpose is now that my children are out of the house? This may be the perfect time to begin that new business venture that I've always dreamed of.
The problem is that some of us are in more than one season at the same time. I have a friend who is expecting her 12th baby, yet also has adult children, teens, elementary aged kiddos, and a toddler or two. She's in at least three seasons simultaneously and will be for quite a while! God bless that woman! As for me, I have adult children, a teen, and a third grader, not to mention my three-year-old granddaughter who is at my house full-time. So I'm just not sure this "season of life" theory really helps me much. I'm thinking that I need to throw that season thing out the window and realize that I don't need to try to figure out if I'm in the middle of summer or approaching autumn.
The problem is that some of us are in more than one season at the same time. I have a friend who is expecting her 12th baby, yet also has adult children, teens, elementary aged kiddos, and a toddler or two. She's in at least three seasons simultaneously and will be for quite a while! God bless that woman! As for me, I have adult children, a teen, and a third grader, not to mention my three-year-old granddaughter who is at my house full-time. So I'm just not sure this "season of life" theory really helps me much. I'm thinking that I need to throw that season thing out the window and realize that I don't need to try to figure out if I'm in the middle of summer or approaching autumn.
Instead I need to look to the One who can light my path for the next step. There are times in life when pursuing a new hobby is just not going to happen because of where I am on the path. On the other hand, there may be shining, wide-open doors of opportunity that I am ignoring because of my fear of failure and fear of change. How convenient it can be to cast blame on my husband or children, job or lack of energy that hinders me from making the fervent and determined effort to move forward in life.
My prayer is that I will enthusiastically run toward that which is worth pursuing, casting aside the fear and smiling at the risks...embracing the dream that is in the center of God's will and timing. But I also need to ask the Lord to help me to trust Him enough to sit back and wait patiently when I don't sense His divine direction, instead of anxiously pushing down hurdles that were meant to protect me from disaster and sorrow. I love Psalm 27:14 which says "Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen you." The original meaning of "wait" means "TO BRAID". Isn't that so cool? When we're waiting on God, we're not just aimlessly wandering, sitting, or twiddling our thumbs. We are purposefully working, serving, praying, studying, giving, and anticipating what He has in store for us next. When we are waiting with this attitude, we can camp out on 1 Timothy 6:6 that confirms in our hearts that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." We can be excited about what is to come tomorrow and elated about what is here today.
My prayer is that I will enthusiastically run toward that which is worth pursuing, casting aside the fear and smiling at the risks...embracing the dream that is in the center of God's will and timing. But I also need to ask the Lord to help me to trust Him enough to sit back and wait patiently when I don't sense His divine direction, instead of anxiously pushing down hurdles that were meant to protect me from disaster and sorrow. I love Psalm 27:14 which says "Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen you." The original meaning of "wait" means "TO BRAID". Isn't that so cool? When we're waiting on God, we're not just aimlessly wandering, sitting, or twiddling our thumbs. We are purposefully working, serving, praying, studying, giving, and anticipating what He has in store for us next. When we are waiting with this attitude, we can camp out on 1 Timothy 6:6 that confirms in our hearts that "Godliness with contentment is great gain." We can be excited about what is to come tomorrow and elated about what is here today.
You may feel that you're on a merry-go-round. Going nowhere fast. Still in the same "season" that you were five, ten, even twenty years ago. Still at the same job. Still at home raising kids, cleaning out closets, wiping noses, struggling just to make ends meet. Still wrestling with some of the same issues that were with you years ago. I can identify! The important question to ask yourself if you're in this position is, "Am I the same person I was back then?" The point isn't so much that you could be doing something different, new, and exciting. Lack of major change in our circumstances is not necessarily equivalent to being stagnant! The point is whether or not you've changed and grown into a better person. God usually works ever-so-slowly in His transforming work. Many a time He will keep us in the same place teaching us contentment, trust, and perseverance before He moves us on up the path to that inevitable fork in the road of life that presents new opportunities. Don't worry. Change will come. It always does. Let's aim for transformation.
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