Seasons Of Grace

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"

The changes of seasons, from hot and sometimes intolerable days to the change of Fall with crisp cool days and the leaves are falling..reds, orange, yellows and amber browns. We are leaving the sultry warm summer nights, the dry, hot climates of the brilliant summers behind. Ones that we once learned to tolerate during the heat of the hottest days. I can remember as we left Spring days behind and entered the Summer that I had to slowly adjust to the changes of the season and I adapted to the heat. It never really stays one way for too long, and God in his wisdom knows we are created to adapt to our climates wherever we live on the 'map' in our area. It also seems that just as we might get used to the new weather in our current season, it starts to change and we have to get used to the new one!
In our lives circumstances and trials and changes we also have the same opportunity. I see a very similar process of dealing with it as with the changes of seasons and adapting. When we are entering a problem, trial, hard transition, tragedy in our lives, we feel overwhelmed at first, we don't know how to cope or know if we will be able to, if we look at the situation head-on from our own perspective. Sometimes it seems like there is not strength to approach it, let alone see the end in sight. However, there is hope to share. I find that in my own life and those around me that I know
have issues and tough times in their lives, if we have support, love and someone to refocus our perspective on the lens of life we see it through, we can endure a little better. We also learn how to 'adapt' to the new season that is upon us in the new challenge of life we are facing. We get used to the problem, we learn to adjust, just like weather that suddenly changes, we take off the flip flops from the summer, and replace our clothing with something that makes the next season more comfortable, we put on a coat, maybe get out our umbrella for the rain that is approaching.
Today I encourage you to do what it takes to make your current new challenge or trials of life you are in more tolerable and rely on the courage, hope, joy and encouragement of his word and surround yourself with people who lift you up.

Phil. 2:1-2 "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united in Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and one mind."