Isn’t it funny? The longer we live in this world, the more we realize a plague haunts us all: the plague of loneliness. Yet the older we are, the more we try to hide it. No matter how many people surround us daily, most times we still miss being fully known and accepted. Often, although we long for a community, at the first hint of vulnerability and frictions, we tap out.

Community-building takes intentionality

If we only make our love available when it is convenient in our schedule, we won’t discover the moments of surprise that reveal the beauty and depth of our relationships.

A few days ago I was at a house gathering with 4 friends who are passionate to bring forth justice and love to the country. We sat in a circle, sharing the calling God has given us. One is in the Fall season where work is changing. One is in Spring where new responsibilities are budding. Another is in Winter as God is processing one’s inner soul.

Though we were in different seasons in life, our souls were encouraged knowing that….

That night, I reflected on the gathering...whether it be in sleepless nights or toilsome mornings, the Christian life is a journey, where we find God more than enough in every season.

So what season are you in?

Are you in Winter?

A time that appears dreary and cold. We feel far from God and each step of the way is bitter and dark. Though things seem dark, Winters are needed for the new growth coming in Springtime. He is the God who sees us even in bare and desperate seasons

Are you in Fall?

Fall brings the cooler breezes and beautiful autumn colors, but also the “falling away” of things in our lives like friends or work. There may be the relief of falling off things like addiction, or the harder ones like lost of loved ones.

Spiritual seasons of Fall may cause us to doubt God.  Even Elijah went through such a season after his heated "summer season" dealing with Ahab, Jezebel and the prophets of Baal. After such a great victory for God, Elijah ran into the wilderness filled with fear and doubting God. Yet we must remember that it is all in preparation for new things God is bringing!

Are you in Summer?

Then there are seasons of Summer when life seems warm and relaxed. The flower is in full bloom; our spiritual level of maturity has been reached for a time and all is well. It’s in this season where we are in the ‘heat’ of things and we labor for what He has shown.

Or Are you in Spring?

Here are the times when everything seems to be new and blooming! Reading God's Word, fellowshipping with others, praying & spending time with God everyday is new and fresh!  God uses this season to help us grow in Him and see His beauty. It’s a time of excitement but also of anxiety for what’s to come.

Both good changes and bad changes come with a sense of loss. It’s easy to fall into complain-mode about the differences in each season. Whatever seasons you’re in, God still works in them. There is beauty to be found in all seasons:

Summer brings warmth & sunshine along with its heat; Spring brings new beauty along with its showers; Fall brings coolness and colors along with its “falling away”; Winter brings rest and peace along with its cold which may confine us (Creative Bible Study).

We need a community to remind us: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecc 3: 1-2). Let us pray as the Puritan does on The Valley of Vision:

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou has brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;

Let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty Thy glory in my valley.

X,

Tam