“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” – Ecclesiastes 3
Day before yesterday I went for a drive. It was October 30th, and the West Virginia mountains painted an immaculate portrait of colors against the baby blue sky. Autumn is arguably one of the most beautiful seasons, but why? Autumn represents death, after all… but it also represents letting go, and accepting the impermanence of things. Autumn is a time that the universe is allowing itself to be reborn. It’s a beautiful renewal.
As I sat in my car in the middle of Kanawha State Forest, I began to analyze my current situation. There are many circumstances in my life that I do not understand. In the past few months, God has torn down all of my walls and left me feeling destructed and dismantled. He has crashed over my life like a hurricane and washed away with bits and pieces of who I am, or was, as a person. It has caused me to question myself… to question Him and His great plan for my life. It took stepping back from the chaos of my situation to realize that when God breaks us down, it is only to rebuild us better than before. Sometimes, it is necessary for God to reconstruct our lives in order for us to grow.
My life is like the trees in the forest. My colors have changed. My leaves have fallen from my branches, leaving me feeling exposed and vulnerable. I have experienced the rough snows of Winter. The winds have been chilling and powerful. Some of my branches have broken… but Spring is approaching me. My leaves are sprouting, and I am excited to see how beautiful they grow to be. He is developing me into something better than I could have ever imagined, and I am ready to bloom into my season of renewal.
Even when I don’t understand, I trust in His great plan for my life. He has abundance and beauty planned for me. He is the author of my story, and it is well with my soul.
“The He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” – Revelation 21:5
haleydmeade 