When Seasons Change
We all face seasons in our lives when we feel
unstable,
stuck,
abandoned,
worthless.
Life’s challenges knock us down, and like a boxer, we hear the referee counting, ” . . . 8, 9, 10.” The effort to get back up overwhelms us. But, Love holds His arms open to us and welcomes us into them, to find comfort and peace and stability.
We Can Trust Jesus
In December 1998, we believed that Jesus was leading us to Denver, Colorado. I didn’t want to move. I was grieving the loss of cherished friendships. But, his call was clear: Go to Denver. Still, I was mad at Him. The life we’d planned had unraveled, and in the process we felt bruised and beat up. The day that we traveled to look at new homes, I woke up in a hotel room resenting God’s plans. I knelt by the bed and asked God for a cheerful heart. In my spirit, He spoke clearly, “I made this place and I love it. I want you to love it, too. This is the place that I have chosen for you, for your healing and rest. This is my best for you.” I grabbed onto the bedspread and cried. I wanted to love it here, but I couldn’t make my heart feel anything but sadness. I forced out a whisper, “I trust you.”
Our house in Indiana sold quickly, and we moved into our Denver house in a mid-January. We drove to the mountains every chance we had. There, my fractured heart began to open. Like God, the mountains provided a stability to my changing life. They marked my horizon and pointed to the One that I could trust with my future and my life. They reminded me that–
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
Psalm 121:1-2
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Jesus kept His word. While living in Denver, I began to experience spiritual freedom for the first time in my life. I wrote about that here and here, recently.
We Can Believe His Words
Last fall, Dave and I traveled to Colorado Springs for a conference. Before we flew home, we drove to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, a place we visited with our children during those earlier years. Not many places I’ve been refresh me like the mountains. Standing in the valley, surrounded by mountains, or driving up to the alpine elevation at 10,000 feet renews my faith in an unchanging and unmovable God.
“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
Isaiah 54:10
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
Says the Lord who has compassion on you.
The promise of Isaiah 54:10 doesn’t guarantee that change won’t come or life won’t fall apart or people won’t leave us. The promise is for the times when they do fall apart, reminding us that He will remain, unmovable and unchanging. We can depend on Him. That’s real love.
Stay rooted in His Love.
