Seasons in life...

DRANKENSBERG - JULY 2011

Just like nature needs all four seasons, so, I believe, do we! Each and every season has a purpose and is required before we can move on to the next season.

Durban has had a particularly cold winter this year with many Facebook statuses dedicated to the desperate desire for Winter to be over!!

I must admit, though, that I've quite enjoyed winter this year! There are several benefits of going through a cold (& relatively long) Winter... Here are some of my personal favourites:
- I get to finally wear a jersey/jumper/sweater
- I might even get to wear a jacket / coat and scarf
- I get to snuggle under a blankie, watch DVDs and drink hot chocolate without feeling guilty!
- No mosquitos / bugs / flys

Now that's all about the weather... In terms of a personal Winter season, believe it or not, but the benefits are there too. It's through our darkest days (long wintery nights) that we learn and grow. Our community was rattled recently after several devastating tragedies struck. Many many people started questioning their faith, were angry with life and God and battled to see beyond the tragedies -- myself included! I read the following which helped me put things into perspective (although some of the questions are still there, I'm learning to trust): ( http://christian-topics.info/Article/The-Beautify-Of-Suffering---How-To-Get-Through-Hard-Times/10693) 

With so much suffering going in the world, one can wonder whether there is anything good that can come from suffering. 

Benefits Of Suffering

Benefit #1: An Opportunity To Know Yourself

Trials test the depth of your character and strengthen that which you believe in. A tree’s roots are made stronger by winds and go deeper due to lack of water. King Solomon says, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.”[1] 

Benefit #2: An Opportunity To Learn

During hard times, we are drawn out of our comfort zones thus we can easily learn lessons we would have learnt no other way. The wise man says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.”[2]

Benefit #3: Drawing Us Near To God

It’s during suffering that many are drawn to seek God more. Trials present you a chance to tap into God’s power, comfort and peace. In the end we learn that he is always in control. Thus we can totally trust Him in every circumstance. 

Benefit #4: Builds Compassion In Us For Others

God will comfort us in our suffering so we can give comfort to those who are suffering. Our experiences are then not wasted but used to pick others up from where we ourselves were picked up from.

During my university years, I missed three semesters due to financial constraints. It was the hardest time of my life. Amazingly, during that time I wrote two books (yet to be published), did a Bible course, began serving in a ministry that reaches out to students. And most importantly, I learnt to trust and wait on God. He got my attention!

Hard times do leave some people bitter and fearful, but you can determine to always maximize such moments. After all, no one can escape them. 

******

UMHLANGA --
What a stunning backyard! 

And what I have discovered over time, is that seasons change... Winter is ALWAYS followed by Spring. Perhaps not in our timing... but come it does. And oh how wonderful is that feeling, of (literally and figuratively) being able to take off the sweater/jumper/jersey and run around in shorts and a t-shirt saying "Thank you Father for this incredible day -- I appreciate the sun, the sea, the sand so much more now that I've grown through 'my Winter season'."

There might even be a few 'false starts' where we were sure Spring had arrived and BAM, a chilly winter's day arrives... But know that it's only temporary!

To Every Thing There is a Season

Ecclesiastes 3, 1 - 8

To everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,

and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

a time of war, and a time of peace.