A Change Is Gonna Come

I've fallen into the Facebook camp of many of you this month who are doing the 30 Days of Thankfulness. It's a great thing for all of us to stop and count our blessings, not just during the month of November, but every day. Last year, I even placed a paper on my fridge to remind myself to "thank God" for at least 10 things daily in 2012.  It has been right in front of me, and God has used it often to remind me to have a grateful heart year round. (I need visuals, people!) My thankfulness today is that God has given us seasons- both physically and spiritually. Without them, I don't think we'd truly see the depth of the riches and the glory of God.

Yesterday, as we were pulling into our driveway, Sean commented on the tree in our side yard. He said, "Yesterday that tree was absolutely gorgeous and in full bloom. Today, half the leaves are already blown away." I looked and agreed, for just the day before I had taken in the absolute beauty of this tree. It made me a little bit sad that this beauty would not last.

  

Have I mentioned that Autumn is my favorite season? There's just something breathtaking to me to see something that was once mundane, plain, and ordinary turn into something beautiful. The colors that God uses to exclaim His glory in creation during Autumn cannot be reproduced by Crayola or on the pallet of a polished artist. There's no replication for what only He has created and what He can do.

Because of this, I thoroughly enjoy nothing more than a long drive on a sunny, crisp Autumn day and gasping at the glory of God. However, come Winter time, my heart is quite fickle when it comes to celebrating a season. I am an absolute Scrooge! I do not like cold, and I do not like snow. The first snow is usually so pretty to look at, but after that I am always on the countdown to Spring, preferring to hibernate. Shorter days, less daylight, and cold temps all just equal blah to me. Quite the change of heart, isn't it?  I told you I was fickle.

As I thought about what Sean had said and what I remembered about that tree, I felt God speaking to me about this fickle heart of mine. You see we are in the process of a new season in our lives.  The Lord has chosen in His Higher plans to move us to a new city and a new church. It's bittersweet. Bitter because it means we say "goodbye" to people we have grown to love. Sweet because we know the Lord is leading us and we already have such a love for our new church family.  The truth of the matter is that seasons come and go for all of us. Change is gonna come! Our lives are filled with one season after another.  Some are beautiful with lush leaves of green and warm sunshine. Celebrate Him! Some are glorious where the landscape of our lives is filled with sweet surprises of the brightest reds, oranges, and yellows. Praise Him! Some are bitter, cold, and bare like a tree that's lost all its leaves as winter months draw near. Draw near to Him. Some are like Spring, recovering and hopeful, with just a glimpse of what can be built or rebuilt, grown, or regrown. Trust Him. And in the toughest of seasons, we as believers can remember the promises of God and make sure our roots are strong and deep.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."  Jer. 17:7-8

Yes, a change is gonna come as the old song says. In every season, God says we can give thanks, not fear, and even continue to bear fruit. It is so hard to say this in the bitter cold of winter, but when the hard ground thaws and the flowers bloom, and the birds start to sing, and the days become longer than the night, we are once again reminded that God is indeed near, faithful, and good. Every single thing is filtered through His love. With these truths in our heart, we need not fear future change, but embrace it. Change is gonna come, and it's gonna be GOOD-not because a pastor is coming or going, not because of a program, or anything that has to do with you and me. It is good only because of God and what He will be faithful to continue to do.

"Being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you (and me) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:6