Seasons Change and Come at You Fast

I live in Indiana. This past spring, there was no spring. As soon as the “seasons changed”, it was 90 degrees outside and we were in summer before we were ready for it.

Everyone had purchased their kiddos the cutest raincoats and rain boots and had to put them away and pull out the shorts and tank tops. Currently, it’s autumn… a.k.a. fall (according to the calendar and the folks on television), but it feels like the middle of winter outside. I mean, 30 degrees in the morning and even colder at night is definitely not fall weather as I remember it.

In fact, we’ve only had one fall day so far. It was an amazing 67-degree day that had everyone in their feels and drinking pumpkin spice everything. The next day we were feeling the summer heat again. Now, it’s cold.

I got up one morning and got in my car to head to work and noticed that my windshield was foggy. So, I turned on my wipers, you know, thinking it was just a little dew and quickly realized that it was ice. Ice. On my window. In October. A mess!

In both cases, us Hoosiers had to adapt to the weather changes or be completely ill-dressed and uncomfortable. See, it didn’t gradually get colder. Nope, we went to sleep one night in summer and woke up to winter. So, currently, I am leaving for work in the coat, scarf, hat, and gloves that I hadn’t planned on wearing until at least the end of November. After Thanksgiving (rolls eyes).

Did Your Current Season Creep Up on You?

Often, we are placed in seasons that we may not necessarily be ready for – at least in our own opinions. Most times, we try our best to prepare for what comes next. But, what do you do when what comes next isn’t what we prepared for? How are we supposed to cope when we skip from step 2 to step 8?

Well, we must trust God. He is the only one who knows our story’s end. Our Playbook says in the New Living Translation of Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”

Just like winter hitting early was a shock to my system, there are times when life’s seasons change and shock me as well.

So, What’s the Play Call?

No matter the case, whether it be natural or spiritual, we must adapt and dress properly when the seasons change. Allow God to be your meteorologist and seek Him for the proper dress – especially when there are no signs of the quick switch. Recognize that your season “skip” won’t always come with a fair warning – just like our summer to winter shift here in good old Indiana. Here are a few Team tips to help us when we enter unexpected seasons:

1. Seek God. Only He knows what’s up next and no matter how “prepared” we are, we won’t ever know exactly what to expect without His help. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
2. Dress for the weather. You may be expecting your fall season and walk outside to a temperature of 30 degrees, like I did. You may have to walk back inside and put on your coat and gloves. In any event, do not be so disappointed that you never change. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11
3. Realize what time it is. Sometimes, God adjusts our seasons to help us focus on the time He is calling us to. Some seasons He may have us to skip over, while some may seem to last longer. Seek Him on what He would have you to learn and gain from each. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1
4. Know that God is with you. It may seem as if we are alone in times that we aren’t prepared, but we must always remember that God will not leave us. He is right there when we need Him. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

No matter what season you are in or feel you should be in, God allowed you to be there so trust Him! God will see you through and give you the proper tools and covering to handle it.