........ I've been pondering a lot recently on how life has so many different seasons. Seasons of happiness, sadness, learning, working, business, chaos, rest, giving and receiving.
I think this pondering has been triggered by the arrival of my favourite season, Autumn. But it has been heightened from being at home so much recently after the birth of my gorgeous little boy. This has been a season of thankfulness from the amazement and wonderment of the arrival of our little miracle, but along with that I have been taking a back seat on certain things that are important to me, and as a family we have been facing some pretty huge challenges and the last few months have been tough!
This season for me is one of joy and also of business... not only being mum of 2, but also co-running a business with Craig, and overseeing the kids ministry at church. This leaves little time for self indulging in time to myself! But this is only for a season, like the disturbed nights (I hope)! Its important that what ever life has for you now, you grasp hold of the joys as well as the challenges knowing that the challenges come and go, what is the saying, 'this too shall pass'. The joys of certain seasons can be hard won sometimes, other times they are so evident.... on my most busy and challenging days at the moment I can take a look at my kids and know a deep joy and thank God for the blessing they are to us.
Seasons are also reflected in our walk with God. We have times of refining, of acceleration in our revelation, and alsorts of twists and turns on our journey. Yet I would suggest that even though there are times that seem tough and, the cliched 'desert times' that our experience of God's love should not be seasonal. Whatever happens in life, God is still the same, he is still our loving heavenly dad who has nothing but good things for his children. As Tony Wastall reflects, "The bible never refers to our experience of God as seasonal. We go from faith to faith, glory to glory and increase to increase." Yes things get tough, but even in the darkest moments God still loves us and wants good for us! That never changes. As we teach our kids at church, "GOD IS IN A GOOD MOOD"
I was really touched by this story entitled:
The Refiner's Fire
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3) This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot--then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy--when I see my image in it."
Author unknown
So whatever the season is for you, whether its full of joy or sadness, rest or busyness know that God is still the same and he has nothing but good things for you and He never takes His eyes off you. Keep focussing on him and be open to all he has for you now.
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