When people talk about seasons, they like to keep it simple with four seasons. People have their favorites, some like spring and the blossoms and cooler weather, while the beach bums can’t wait for summer to sit by the ocean. The colors of autumn grace many a social media page, and honestly, I don’t hear too many people talking about winter as their favorite. At least, not the short days or the cold weather, but cozy indoor evenings with a good book is always welcome. However, in Pennsylvania, it seems like we have 12 seasons. The transition periods seem to add additional layers of weather conditions to daily life. March is known as “Mud month” as the rain turns farmlands to mush and livestock slogs through the mess. There’s “Fool’s Spring” which usually happens between winter and spring, a nice week of high temperatures is followed by a week of Winter Wonderland. But through all these changes, I have to consider how much I appreciate nice weather. And do I appreciate it more when there is awful weather?
I wonder if life is like that. Do the valleys of life allow us to appreciate the mountaintops more? Do the bad times help us remember the good times, and are the good times for getting through the hard times? Circumstances often change the way that I feel; sad times undoubtedly make me sad, and happy times always make me smile. I wonder if God wants it that way. If the Psalms are any indication, God is no stranger to hearing us out. When the psalmists pour out their hearts to God, they are then free to remember who God is and what He has done. We should never be mastered by anything, let alone our emotions, for Jesus is our beloved master. But if God didn’t want us to have emotions or for things to change then we wouldn’t feel anything and all would remain the same.
So why do things change, and should I just be stoic and stone faced through all of life’s happenings? I don’t think so. Bearing my heart to God does not change the way I feel, and honestly, doesn’t change what’s happening in life. But it helps me place my emotions into God’s gentle hands, my situation into His caring hands, and helps me remember who God is. My emotions are a gauge, but grace is the guide back to God. I think that’s the purpose of change – opportunity to remember that God is in charge, and an opportunity to trust God. And when that’s my perspective, well it won’t really matter what season it is, because God is always just as faithful as He has always been.
– Dillon
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