What Season Are You In?

A few weeks back our lawn mower died. It was old and running really rough. We had it worked on last summer and it did well for a little while. We had hoped to limp it through another summer. We have had above average rainfall this year, and we are thankful for that. But, that also meant an increase in the amount of times that we would need to mow the yard. So, old faithful gave out on us. I could think of a number of other things to spend money on than a lawn mower. As we all know, these things happen. Mechanical things are only going to last for a while. 

I think one reason I so enjoy gardening is because there is always something new. In the spring the ground is prepared and new plants are planted. During the summer months I am busy weeding, fertilizing, and watering. Then autumn comes and I prepare my geraniums and other annual flowers for the greenhouse. Here in zone 7, autumn’s the time to plant pansies. Most often our pansies, (although they are technically an annual flower) will survive the winter and they will bloom in the early spring. I spend the winter months reading garden magazines and seed catalogs, making plans for the next year.
I have reached the time in my life that our society has declared as, “Middle aged.” I have seen many seasons of my life come and go. 

Years ago my husband and I got frustrated with how things were going in our life. Frustration by itself isn’t necessarily bad. It was when frustration led to bitterness that we got into trouble. Bitterness caused us to make a decision to change my husband’s employment. We moved from Iowa to Oklahoma in 1995 to be part of a certain ministry. My husband worked there for 5 years, but we grew impatient. Our pride caused us to think that we could go farther on our own. We didn’t pray about it, we didn’t seek godly counsel; we didn’t even have a plan. We just went out on our own.
“The thoughts of the steadily diligent tend only to plenteousness, but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want.” (Proverbs 21:5)

What followed were six years of hell. We were in debt so deep we ended up in bankruptcy. My husband went through two major battles with his health, (and we had no health insurance). We finally ended up flat on our face, crying out to God. It was the worst time in our lives, but it was also the best thing that could happen. It was the best thing because we finally realized that nothing we do is because of who we are or what talent we think we may have. Rather, everything we are or do is because of who Jesus is. He made us. He is the one with the perfect plan for us. Sometimes people step out into things that are God’s will but not His timing. In that case it is still wrong and it won’t succeed. In our case, we were totally out of God’s will, and thus we were out from under His umbrella of protection. We came to our senses and reapplied for a job with the ministry. On his application my husband wrote, “I will work in any department, for any wage, I just know that I am suppose to be here.” He got a job working with the construction department. Three years after that he was promoted back to the same job that he had when he had resigned. Guess what? He loves it! In thirty-three years of marriage, I have never seen him happier in his work than he is now. The difference was simply a heart attitude.

What season are you in today? Have you been waiting on God for what seems like eternity? Do not give up! Check your heart, keep the right intentions. Serve God, serve people. Focus on the things that are the dearest to God’s heart. Focus on the lost. God knows your heart. He knows your desires. Let Him worry about the details and the timing. He wants more for you than you could ever dream. His plan for you may not be as soon as you would like, but it will come to pass in the perfect season.

“The Lord upholds all those of His own who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down. The eyes of all wait for You, (looking, watching and expecting) and You give them their food in due season.” (Psalm 145:14-15 AMP)