ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY- What Season does the Lord have You in?
It doesn’t matter if you are a mother, a man, or someone who has never given birth to a child, we all understand, to a degree, the stages of pregnancy. There are the seasons of expectation, waiting and birth pains, the delivery, and the arrival of the child.
If you have been a Christian for a minute, those same seasons are common to us. My question to you is, what season do you believe the Lord has you in right now?
The Lord takes us into a season of expectation where our hope is alive, we greatly sense His movement or direction and we are excited with anticipation of what He will do in, to, through, and for us. We love this season because our imaginations run free with possibilities and our trust in what God can do is alive.
The next season feels like a letdown compared to our season of expectation. In this season, we wait. God seems to have us in a holding pattern. We often feel directionless, out of control, and even powerless at times because we are walking in the unknown.
I will share that the Lord, yet again has me in this season. Six months ago, I left a good-paying job and the safety and comfort of my home and friends to move back to Nashville, TN. Although I love my adopted home and never wanted to leave years ago when the Lord had me return to my home of origin, it was not in my plan to move back here so soon.
Nevertheless, with savings in hand, confidence after prayer, wisdom from my pastor, and safe people and confirmation, I moved. Unlike many times before during adjustments when hard work and God’s provision for employment opened up, this time was different. For months, no matter how hard I try or how many interviews or applications I put in, doors are closed. Fear creeps in due to nothing coming in while rent and bills are due. He has me, not only in the waiting room of birthing His purpose but has me on a spiritual bedrest waiting with closed doors. As a Choleric who thrives on tasks and getting things done, I hate it!
When God has us in this stage of waiting, which so many people are in currently, it feels cruel, unloving, and even punitive. We wonder why God is not answering us or opening doors we believe we need to be opened. During the waiting, we hurt, struggle to trust and believe God knows what He is doing and is creating a wonderful blessing to be birthed without our help.
Next comes the delivery season. We like this. We begin to see God open doors that we know we could never open on our own. Our faith and hope begin to renew and we can feel and see a finish line although we don’t know the result.
Finally, God brings about His purpose. Like a mother after the horrible pain of childbearing, we forget the pain of waiting and the tears of struggle. We stand back amazed at something that only God could do. It is miraculous.
Yes, the Lord certainly allows seasons in our life for His purpose and plan. I want to encourage you as I encourage myself to remember, like a beautiful baby, that the miracle and creation are totally in God’s control. There are times when He wants us to move forward with planning the colors of the bedroom and buying things for the house. However, the purpose and the plan are His alone, not ours. He will open and close the doors needed for His plan and purpose to come to fruition. He has not abandoned us nor is blind to what is happening. The purpose and plan you and I are going through now, while scary and difficult, is something He already knew and planned a long time ago. You are exactly where He wants you. Be encouraged. You are not crazy, being punished, or alone. He just has us in the uncomfortable waiting season where He wants us to be still and trust that He knows what He is doing. He always brings His purpose and plans into perfect delivery and arrival in His time. You can do this!
 Take care,
Charlotte
Dream Madly, Pursue Wildly, Trust Completely
Copyright © 2024 by Charlotte D. Hunt All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, or otherwise without written permission from the author except for brief quotations in printed reviews.