'tis the season

I want to talk about seasons, but even more specifically, I want to talk about being content in the season you're in, and trusting that God has a very specific purpose for you being right there, right now.

Some days, I believe that with my whole heart and others I struggle to believe that I will ever see another season then the one I'm currently in. Comparison is the thief of joy and true joy and contentment only comes from God. When we compare (and ohhh, am I guilty of it) we tend to see only what we think we lack, instead of focusing on the abundant blessings we have right now, and praising God for them. It can seem strange sometimes, praising God for a season of loneliness, a season of hurt, of loss, of struggle, of waiting. But in the wise words of my roommate "true contentment starts with a grateful heart" and I think that's where it truly begins.

Praising God and thanking Him for the season that we're in, because He knows exactly where we need to be, and exactly what purpose it serves. God's purpose and plan for my life is not the same and His purpose and plan for yours, so comparing them to each other just seems silly. He has a specific plan for each and every one of us, and He is faithful to carry it out.

Sometimes it can be hard to see or to remember that when we feel like we have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for what seems like forever for a season to end, or for a prayer to be answered. We see everyone else getting the things we desire or getting the things we are waiting for and we want to scream (or if you're me...you actually do..in your car...quite often lol) "WHEN IS IT MY TURN GOD?!" And then, through His living word and through the encouraging words of my sweet roommate, God's soft whisper said...

"Right now."

Right now it is your turn, because life doesn't start after this season, or when you get that job, or when you meet that person, or when you don't feel this way anymore...life starts right now.

And God has a purpose for your "right now" and a purpose for mine. So often I have focused on what's next, feeling ill-equipped to do what it is God has for me to do until I get to "that place". If only I where there, if only I had that, THEN I could do God's work, THEN I would be happy. I haven't believed that God had a purpose and a plan for me in this place, and I haven't believed that I could be truly content in it either. Always striving and straining for more, desperately trying to be anywhere else but where I am right now. But where we are right now is too important to miss. Because God is here, and He is doing a work in this very moment, in me and through me. Listen to what He says...

"'Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came upon her, she delivered a son. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment? For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?' says the Lord. 'Shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?' says your God. (Isaiah 66: 7-9)"

God has a purpose for His timing and for the order in which things happen. A baby can't be born before a mother goes into labor. A nation can't be created in a moment. And God, who calls all things into existence, is faithful to carry His plans to completion, in the right order, and in His perfect timing. This chapter of Isaiah goes on to talk about how God brings us abundance, extends peace to us like a river- "like an overflowing stream," how He comforts us, how He causes our hearts to rejoice and flourish, and how He makes His hand known to his servants. God isn't hiding from us, He is just waiting for us to look up and see where is has been all along. God's hand is beautiful woven throughout every detail, and every moment, and every season of our lives, and it is often not until we look back that we can see that He was there all along. Unfathomable love.

I don't want to fight my seasons anymore, I want to embrace them. I want to ask God to show me what He has for me to do in each one of them, what He wants to teach me, how He wants to grow me. To reveal the different facets of who He is through each one of them to me. To stop searching for the next thing, or revisiting the last thing, and to start focusing on the best thing, God himself and the things that He has for me right now. To trust Him and the amazing, mysterious, and wonderful plan He has for my life, and for yours, and to thank Him for the unreal opportunity to walk this road with Him and get to know Him more and more through it all. God is so cool you guys and He is SO good.

God bless & all my love,

Nicole <3