Embracing the Season You're In

Hello, dear friend! Happy new year and new decade! It's crazy to believe we're already in 2020, right?

I wanted this blog post to be about new seasons and change. Now, I am not one for change. In fact, I absolutely hate it. Change gives me so much anxiety and I hate not knowing what is going to happen. It drives me crazy. But if I've learned anything from this past year, it's that 1). change is inevitable, 2). change isn't meant to be harmful, and 3). change grows you in unimaginable ways. But that doesn't mean it's easy to wade through this new change and season.

In the last month of 2019 and potentially a bit of this year so far, God has placed me in a season of singleness after an almost two and a half year relationship. That's a long time to be with someone. And with this has already come some highs and lows and it has only been three weeks since this season began. Most of the time, change comes out of nowhere and sometimes under the radar until it happens. And for us, for our human emotions, that makes it so much harder.

But can I tell you something, friend? No matter what season you are about to go through, no matter how big the waves or how tall the mountains, God is beside you, behind you, and already at the end waiting for your victorious arrival! He is there rooting for you every step of the way and He will not leave you!

Since entering this new season, I have noticed so many little blessings God has placed in my life. For one, I have been placed into healthy friendships where my friends are not only saying, "I'm so sorry," but also "what can I do to help you through this?" I have also experienced the peace God can give and what that actually looks like in the hustle and bustle of not only college life, but life in general. And while this one may seem a little odd to a few, I have seen the blessing of having early classes. This is my first semester in a while where I have 8:30 and 9:00 A.M. classes. And after getting ready (first of all, it is a blessing I can wake up with enough time to get ready and have a few extra minutes), I have the chance to do my devotion in the morning, which is something I'm not super great at most of the time.

To put it simply, by acknowledging the new seasons I'm in, I have noticed more of the little blessings God has given me. He is near, friends, and only wants to comfort you and lead you. This change may hurt, but I am learning that it is for the better. Because when God closes a door, He'll open a window. Or, as I said quite a few times last year, if the door is closed and a window is closed but broken, jump through the window if possible. Hopefully you won't get cut by any glass, but if you do, just know that you have someone fighting for you who is eager to heal you.

Your brokenness does not define you. David says in Psalm 23:4, "Even though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." The victory is God's! Though this season may be rough and you feel like you're being tossed violently by the waves of life, we have a life guard who can walk on water. Isn't that amazing?!

I know this season may be rough and it's the last thing you want to go through, but God has made us a promise: In Isaiah 43, God claims that He is making something new. We just have to wait and see what it is. We have to be still and wait expectantly for what our amazing Lord and Savior has in store for us. He will not lead us through the desert without water because He is Living Water. He will protect us, and nourish us, and guide us, and, above all else, He will love us.

When we feel alone and abandoned, we need to remember that we really aren't because we have a Father who is dying for our attention. He wants us to know Him and follow Him and abide in Him. And once we abide in Him, He will abide in us.

So, dear friend, I know this season is hard. I know this change is unwanted. I know this trial is rough. But God will not lead us down wrong paths. If God brings you to it, He will surely bring you through it.

I found this song about two months ago and I am finding it to be my theme song. It rings so true to me. I want you to listen to it. It's a song about change and confusion, but through it all, it's about knowing our Mighty God is there beside us the entire time. Listen to "Constant" by Francesca Battistelli. It is such a good song full of so much hope and I hope you enjoy it and find comfort in these words.