I'm Just in the Winter

 

I was recently having a conversation with a friend, sharing some deep struggles that I am going through and she shared the song Seasons by Hillsong Worship with me. 

The season of life I am in right now is one I never wanted to be in, I would have never chosen this for my life. I never wanted these struggles, but God has a different plan than my own. So what do I do? Do I sit around angry at God for not granting my wish? Do I become increasingly frustrated and bitter? Do I stop praying because it feels like God isn't listening? Or do I recognize that the harvest is going to be so much richer after this winter that I am going through. Do I continue to trust God as I know His plan, His timing, His vision for my life is going to be so much better than I could have ever planned myself. 

As the song goes:

"I can see the promise
I can see the future
You're the God of seasons
And I'm just in the winter
If all I know of harvest
Is that it's worth my patience
Then if You're not done working
God I'm not done waiting"

I don't know why I feel led to share that I am going through tough personal struggles at the moment. I don't want anyone's sympathy or attention, but I feel so strongly that we need to do a better job being open and honest about what we are going through. Maybe someone reading this needs to hear these words and know that they are not alone. Maybe you have been struggling lately or you have felt anger or bitterness towards God, you feel like He isn't listening and you're struggling to trust Him. That is okay. It's okay to be angry and frustrated, but with those emotions it's important to recognize that there is so much more. The God of the universe, the God who created us, Who knows all the stars in the sky and how many hairs are on your head, cares deeply about you. We need to trust Him and offer up our struggles to Him. 

As the song continues:

"Though the winter is long even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come"

Winter may be cold and dark, but we don't live our whole lives in the winter. Eventually the harvest comes, yielding life giving crops. Our life experience is much the same. Although we may go through dark and cold moments in our lives, there will always be better, more fruitful times. We need to get better at trusting God through the winter and acknowledge that times seem tough now and we don't understand but that spring is on it's way. 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11