As the leaves begin to change and the Fall season surrounds us, I am reminded of how inconsistent life can be.
Fall is typically the most common answer I have received when asking others what season of weather they enjoy the most. They explain how they enjoy the colors of the leaves, the "sweater weather", or the fun activities that fall provides. As I reflected on the changing of leaves and the vast differences that can exist between seasons, I realized just how much this can reflect our own lives.
Just as the leaves go through a process of changing colors and then falling from the trees, we too go through many adjustments. It could be as small as getting a new haircut or as large as getting a new job. Similarly, just as nature cycles through four seasons each year, we as humans face different seasons of life. These seasons could encompass life changes, health issues, family circumstances, and various newfound emotions as they occur. Whatever that adjustment, or season is, we often are forced to face the reality that life is not always consistent.
People will walk in and out of our lives, jobs will change, friends and family members whom we love will pass away, and schedules will vary amongst many other inconsistencies. Despite all those, however, there is one person that always remains constant. Jesus.
Hebrews 13:8 explains this more by stating, "Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." As we cycle through these seasons and face both the difficulties and joys that life brings us, we can find hope in knowing that Jesus will not fail us. His goodness and love for us will not change based on our life circumstances. The promises that are given to us in the Bible are consistent through every season we go through.
As I continued to think more about this metaphor that had developed in my mind, I realized how quickly I overlooked the trees and the importance they play in this scenario. They are what hold the leaves off the ground, the roots of the tree give strength and allows it to in return provide a foundation for the leaves to flourish and grow into those beautiful colors that we all love so much. In the same way, God holds us and provides a firm foundation and protection as we weather the storms and seasons that life brings and shapes and molds us into something beautiful through those.
As I am writing this I am reminded of the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 and how the farmer sowed his seed in many different areas, a path, rocky ground, thorns, and good soil. Which do you think actually produced anything? If you guessed the good soil, you are correct. I think a lot of times we do this in our own lives. We try to build our foundation in how successful we are, or how many friends we have, etc. These things though are inconsistent and at some time or another they will likely fail and we will remain stagnant instead of growing.
When we trust Christ to be our roots and foundation, it is like finding the best soil that could ever exist. There will be times where we will still feel stagnant and stuck, but we can trust that God is teaching us and providing growth even if we can't see or understand it.
This summer a sweet friend of mine traveled to Haiti and shared a quote with me that the leader of the ministry had challenged them with. Now, I want to share it with you.
When the earthquakes of life come, will the foundation your life is built on stand?
"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."--Colossians 2:7
