His Reason For My Season
There are so many seasons in life... joy, grief, disappointment, expectation, sadness, doubt, excitement, hope, and so much more. Through the good seasons, we are so thankful for what God is doing, so grateful for His gracious gifts.
Gratitude is a little bit harder in the tough seasons. When we are hurting, lonely, grieving or angry, we often don’t see the purpose. We wonder where God is. Has He forgotten us?
Paul found himself in the worst of places...imprisoned, bound in chains, a captive of the Romans. Yet he never lost his gratitude. He never lost his joy. Why?? Because he knew that even through his horrific situation, God was using him to further the gospel. He was God’s servant even in his darkest moments.
When we are in a bad place, we often get too focused on our problem and can’t see our privilege. We don’t recognize the enormous opportunity we have to be a light for Jesus. We can’t get our blinders off long enough to remember that even in our toughest times, He goes before us and His plan is so much better than our own.
Ruth saw past the pain of being widowed and being in a strange new place, and God took her troubles and turned them to triumph. Esther wasn’t especially thrilled to be pulled from her village and taken before the King, but God’s plans were so much greater. The Samaritan woman lived a life of pain and shame, but all the while God was preparing her to be a witness of His marvelous mercy.
Look around you. Think about your trials. How is God using you to reflect His love, grace, and mercy into others? Are you a willing servant, even when it is tough? And are you willing to serve with joy in your heart, even during the times the joy has to share space with the pain?
Go tell it on the mountain. Or the valley. Tell it on a sunny day or in a storm. It doesn’t matter where...just let God use you.
