God is for you in every season.
Yesterday, I put my garden to bed. Covering it with leaves was the last activity of the season to prepare it for what I hope to be another bountiful harvest next year. I was blessed with yummy veggies all summer and happily skipped the produce section at the grocery store for many months.
“It’s just for a season.” I’ve heard and have been saying this phrase a lot lately as I speak to people who are struggling with a life challenge. Whether it be relational, physical, financial, or even emotional, the trials we face do not last forever. Oh, it may feel like they will but if you look back over your life, you’ll see that I’m right.
I heard something recently from a guest minister at my church that has stuck in my head and I want to share it with you:
“Your first reaction to a trial determines its outcome.”
What is the first thing you do when things go awry? For example, when the customer service rep is rude or someone takes your parking space. On a more serious level, when a relationship breaks down or you receive a bad medical report.
In the above situations, your first reaction might be anger or fear. Perhaps even revenge or deep regret. None of these are positive reactions, right? None of these are a reflection of faith and trust that God will take care of it.
Here’s what I’m learning. In the past, I put God in a box and took Him out when I needed Him. He was a “crisis” God. When I miscarried, I called on Him to do a miracle and save my unborn child. When financial struggles threatened the roof over my head, I begged Him to send winning Lotto numbers.
Today is much different. Today He is not only a “daily” God, but He’s my Father in heaven. You see, there’s a big difference between calling on God and calling on your Father who formed you in your mother’s womb (Psalms 139:13-16).
There’s a closeness, an intimacy, a relationship with a Father. He knows me and I know Him. He hears me and I am able to hear from Him. He’s the first person I talk to in the morning and the last one I talk to at night.
Throughout my day, I’m talking with Him, asking Him to bless and protect my kids, to help me with my work, and thanking Him for all He has done and will do.
Oh sure, I still call on Him during times of crisis and sometimes my first reaction is not one of faith but I quickly recoil and remember who He is and what He has done. I may not always be faithful, but He is. This is why it doesn’t matter what season you are in; God is always there with you.
“Winter, spring, summer or fall. All you have to do is call and I’ll be there.” (Carole King, “You’ve Got a Friend.”)
Look at the two Bible verses below. The first is from the Old Testament book of Joshua, the second from the New Testament. Two completely different time periods. Two completely different situations. Two completely different people.
Yet the message is the same: God will never leave you.
“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5 NKJV)
“…For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV)
That’s not to say we won’t leave Him. We’ve all had times in our lives when we asked, “Where are you God?” You may be asking this question right now given the state of our world. I assure you He has not moved. He is still God. Unlike the seasons, He has not changed.
““For I am the Lord, I do not change;”” (Malachi 3:6 NKJV)
This week, I’d like to encourage you to take God out of the box you may have put Him in. Even if you’ve been walking and talking with Him your whole life, you may have some misconceptions that may not be true. Ask Him to reveal truth to you.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
Your Father in heaven does not want to be a seasonal God, called upon only in times of trial. He wants to be your everyday Father, your Best Friend, your Confidante, your Comforter, and so much more.