May 2024
Old Man Winter has been holding back the sun and warm weather here in North Dakota, leaving us perpetually cold. Just as we began to think it was time to wash and store the volumes of winter gear, the snow would make its entrance once again. Bartering with Mr. Winter has left us with runny noses as a result of both cold weather and seasonal allergies, and mud all over our winter gear. It seems irrational for springtime, but all I want to do is sit under large blankets attempting to keep my teeth from chattering. It feels like a lose-lose situation over here, but we continue to anticipate spring knowing it will eventually come… someday.
The morning of our latest snow catastrophe, I remember standing in my open garage and saying to the Lord, “I’m so sick of this season. I used to love winter, and now… I. Just. Want. Out!” As soon as I said it, it was met by the Holy Spirit's whisper telling me to never rush a season ordained by God. This was one of those moments when you know you’re wrong, but you’d rather keep fighting to hide from the shame. I knew God wasn’t talking to me about snow, or below freezing temperatures - although I wish he was - he was talking to me about the condition of my heart when it came to life's seasons.
There are many times I have begged God to complete a season before its due time, maybe you have, too. I have a missionary friend who walked through an extremely difficult time, and she begged God to complete it as well, because it was breaking her emotionally and spiritually. The country she serves in went on an excessive lockdown during the pandemic, which left her locked in her apartment with very little community or support from her superiors. It was not only lonely, it birthed a course of anxiety and depression in her. She also found herself telling the Lord, “I’m so sick of this season. Get me out.”
It would have been easy to point fingers at God and ask why he wasn’t repairing such a damaging circumstance. My friend learned God allowed this season so he could address matters of the heart. Even through experiencing overwhelming, drowning grief, God was not going to leave her to fend for herself. This season allowed her to learn how to die to self like Paul talks about in Philippians, so she could live well for Jesus and his soon coming kingdom. There was purpose in this time, and if God had let her bypass it, she would’ve missed the opportunity to grow. She’s quoted saying, “God redeems all things no matter what season we are living in.”
We have all found ourselves in seasons we eagerly wait to be over, desperately looking for a way out - especially when there are teenagers in the house. I’m guilty of wanting to push through them as well. I often want to shove them under the rug or eat chocolate while sitting in my tear-saturated tub. But who am I to tell my creator these seasons are not beneficial to my growth and that I can demand he let me out? Who am I to say he is incompetent? Just thinking about the things I’ve said to God in those seasons makes me conceal my face in my hands to collect tears of shame and embarrassment. Nevertheless, his whisper beckons me to seek his kingdom above all else, to live righteously, and he will give me everything I need. Don’t worry about tomorrow, he’s got you (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus has a way of calming our anxious thoughts and speaking to our circumstances as he walks alongside us to remind us of what’s most important. Please note, he doesn’t always take away the circumstance, but he also doesn’t leave you to battle alone. In his message we call the Sermon on the Mount, he asked his followers, ‘Aren’t you far more valuable to my father than the things we see around us? “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them… Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing… If God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the first tomorrow, he will certainly care for you”’ (Matthew 6:26-30, NLT).
In the weeks to come do yourself a favor. Instead of asking God, “Why are you letting this happen to me?” ask him “What can I learn through this?” Seasons aren’t meant to be suffered through. Seasons are meant to challenge, grow, and stretch us. God wants us to be more like the birds and the wildflowers, knowing their every need is provided by their heavenly father, despite the environment around them.