It’s sweater weather already? What happened? Yesterday’s cooler temps had me searching for my warmer clothes. I had a panicky moment realizing I had sent my daughters to school without any jackets!
I’m just not in that “mode” yet, even though fall is barreling down on us like a freight train. Today is officially the first day of fall and it got me thinking. It occurred to me that there are similarities between the earth’s seasons and the “seasons” we go through in our lives.
There’s a shift that happens when we go from summer to fall. Even though fall is a beautiful season to be in, (one of my favorites), that transition can be tough.
There is often a lot of work that needs to happen to be ready for that new season, and it can feel overwhelming. For example, there is a decent sized list of things that we typically do to around our house to get ready for fall.
Our List:
- Get the irrigation system winterized.
- Rake the leaves.
- Replace the dying summer flowers in my pots and boxes with mums.
- Dig out the fall decorations and get a few “harvesty” wreaths up.
- Dust off and setup the humidifiers.
- Go through summer clothes and pull out the fall ones.
- Take inventory of kids coats, mittens, and boots and see what is too small.
Honestly, this is just the beginning of the list, and it gets overwhelming. All of this feels like a lot of work just to get ready for the next season.
If you feel God is bringing you into a new season of your life you may be feeling like, “This is a lot of work!” Maybe you are working on a new project, or you’re starting a new job. Perhaps you’re feeling called to move to a different part of the country to pursue a dream God has put in your heart.
This can be scary, and you may be tempted to give up. I want to encourage you that all of that hard work and perseverance is worth it.
Everything you are doing right now, is setting the stage and laying the groundwork for what’s coming next. The thought may be crossing your mind, “But I don’t know if I have it in me to do what I’m feeling called to do.” Guess what?
You DO.
Did you know that the leaves we so enjoy watching change color each fall ALWAYS have those brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows in them? Yep. They’re always there.
During the spring and summer the chlorophyll in the leaves gives them their green color, but when summer ends the decreased sunlight and cooler temperatures cause that chlorophyll to break down. When it does it exposes the other pigments that we see as “fall colors”.
So everything you have to be brilliantly colorful is already inside you! You just need to “die” to the things that are covering them up, like doubt and fear. Let your colors shine!
Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”
What new thing is God bringing forth in your life? What in your past do you need to let go of? Do the hard work, start breaking a sweat, and keep your eye on the Creator. He designed the seasons, and let Him bring out your beautiful colors that will declare His glory!
