The Season’s End

The time has come to take down the holiday decorations and put them away. Although I absolutely love decorating during the Christmas season, with all its lights and festive colors, I am now ready to return my house to its normal state. Many pleasant evenings have recently been spent enjoying the beautiful light of the village and garland that have graced my den. Returning home to see the beautiful Nativity in the front yard and tree in the window has been welcoming. The beautiful Bethlehem setting, surrounded by angels, has made entrance into the living room extra special for the last several weeks. But the season is ending and it is time to return to the regular setting of our home.

For the past couple of days, I have been anxious to get about the task of taking the decorations down. There has been a longing in my heart to put the furniture back in its regular spots. I have missed other pieces of furniture that were put away to make room for the tree and other decorations. It is just time for things to return to the quiet normalcy that is our home.

Our Christian walk also has different seasons. Some of these include great celebration. We may have waited for a long time to see the fulfillment of the promise that God has placed in our hearts. We celebrate these times just as we celebrate the fulfillment of this promise by the birth of Jesus our Messiah. This may not simply cause great celebration, but may release us into a time of fruitful ministry. We are to welcome and enjoy these.

But the season may come to an end as God desires something new for us. Before we move on to a new and exciting step in our walk with God, we may experience a time of apparent normalcy in life. During what could seem to be mundane, daily activities, God may be calling us to more time spent with Him. As the bridegroom in the Song of Solomon stated, ^“My beloved speaks and says to me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” (Song of Songs 2:10 AMP) God may also be speaking this to our hearts. This season of life may be a time to deepen our relationship with the Lord. Knowing this, we should welcome the routine of everyday life.

During these quiet seasons the Lord may point out areas of our hearts that are not totally right with Him. With this He desires to refresh our souls. “So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;” (Acts 3:19 AMP) We can enjoy this time in which we are renewed and invigorated by the presence of God. He will guide us along the way and bring joy to us. “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11 AMP)

It is important not to look back at past seasons with the heart of longing. By doing so, we may actually miss what God is doing in the moment. “Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 AMP) We must also not try to rush forward into future plans. “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:31 AMP) Contentment is key.

God always knows what is best. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 AMP) He also knows when is best. “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP) When we patiently wait, seeking His will, we can remain content knowing, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy].” (Ecclesiastes 3:11a AMP)

If God currently has you in a quiet place in life, welcome it as the blessing He intends it to be. Do not long for the past or seek to rush the future. All will be well with Him.