To Everything, There is a Season

During a time of seeking God for answers, while I was on this trial of testing my faith, I had allowed the world to dictate and demand more of my time, energy, and soul. I started to seek more work, more answers from the world, resources of running a business through world-view and turning my back from God. Maybe, because I didn’t receive the answers my flesh wanted to hear, or maybe, my flesh was impatient and I wanted answers immediately. I wanted to find comfort in my own knowledge which can lead to spiritual death. Seeking advice from humans can lead to much confusion and despair.

Confusion from human advice can come with:

1. strings attached,

2. opinions,

3. emotions,

4. and moods based on worldly-view at that time

Humans, also known as “opinion-makers,” are ever-changing with the world. In contrast, with Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today and forever. His word remains true and endures forever.

My spirit became restless and exhausted with much anxiety in trying to keep up and maintain what the world calls successful. As God has explained to me, many times, the world’s view of success is much different than the success of God’s Kingdom, and you definitely can’t serve two masters— the world and God.

Success, when measured by God, involves obedience and faithfulness by committing yourself to being successful in God’s eyes.

As I was traveling on this journey with God, in this valley of low, I had many questions like Job from the Bible. I had self pity. I asked God countless times, “Why?” I wanted free of this! I wanted to be on that mountaintop flowing with milk and honey. I had been an obedient servant to Him, so I thought. Was I really being obedient to Him through this trial I was facing? Even so, does it alleviate me from this dark season called winter?

Let me define the word winter. Winter is one of the four seasons and the coldest time of the year. The days are shorter, and the nights are longer. The days are shorter due to the demand to sustain the fast movement of the task set before you by standards of the world, to keep up as the world moves and changes in uniform. The task master of the world is Satan who keeps you busy in the world’s kingdom, and separating you from God’s Kingdom. Then, after a hard day of toiling for wages, your day turns into night where it is long, frightening with worry, and full of anxiety and fear. A long restless night in vain. Futile without fruit of the Kingdom. The harvest you have planted has become worthless, without taste, or nutrition for the spirit. It has dried up, and it has produced death.

Winter is a season, and seasons are ever-changing. We don’t have to stay in this winter season. It is not permanent. One thing we can do is prepare for this season, because we know that this season of winter, without a doubt, will come to all believers. As believers of Christ, we can reflect on the words of Jesus as we encounter this season called winter, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV) These are the words of our Lord as advice to all those that believe in Him. This is also a warning from Jesus to His beloved children to prepare for the lows in your life, the valleys, and the winter season.

Take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. As heirs of Christ, we too, have all authority under the Name of Jesus to overcome the world by putting on the full armor of Christ and suited up with the sword, the Word of God to proclaim loudly the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Through the valleys and the winter seasons, remember the words of Jesus, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them (the world), for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV) God does not promise to remove troubles from your life, but He will give you a warm blanket of endurance during this cold winter storm.

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NKJV)

When my spiritual walk seems quiet and slow, I will ask God, “Why?” He will then whisper to my heart, “Rest! ‘Be still, and know that I AM GOD.’” (Psalms 46:10 NIV)