October is here, it is finally here! I love October, the air gets crisp and cool, the world changes colors, football season (living in Alabama that in itself is a season all it’s own), Pumpkin flavored everything, and my birthday! I just love it! Anne of Green Gables said it best, ” I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”. Amen.
I also think there a lot of things that Autumn can teach us in regards to Christ. Typically we get stuck in a rut during the summer. We sleep late, we take vacations…too often we take spiritual vacations as well. But I think Autumn comes along with it’s cool air and revives us awakens us to the wonders of God. Who else could make something so beautiful? I want to present to you some things I think of When I compare Autumn to Christ.
Let Go
As the air gets cooler and the colors get brighter, the time comes for the leaves to let go. If they do not let go then they cannot come back new in the spring. They have to die in order to live, they have to let go of what they have been holding onto for so long in order to come back strong and new. I think the same goes for us, we are coming out of season and with us we carry things, lots of things. Things that hurt us, things that made us angry, choices we regret, and people we need to forgive ( or maybe we need to forgive ourselves). We have to let go in this season in order to move to the next season. Otherwise we get stuck and we can not grow, we stay weak. Pruning is tough, it will hurt. But unlike the hurt itself it does not keep hurting, only for a little bit. But we have to submit, we have to allow the change to happen for God to work in our hearts to heal us and repair us. In order to do that we have to fall, to let go and know that our heavenly Father knows what is best for us. To trust that after the changing, the dying to self and the falling that we will return but so much stronger than before. Because it is not the end, only a season that we find ourselves in. God never forgets about his children. So I encourage you to let go, to leave the past behind this Autumn and just fall, fall in to the loving arms of our Lord.
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:18
Accept the Seasons of Your Own Life
Autumn comes regardless of whether we are ready or not, it comes because it is time. We can not stop it or postpone it, we can only prepare for it the best we know how. Our life has seasons too, they come, they go and they shape us into who we are. Some seasons are harder than others, I recently came out of a pretty rough season. It challenged me, but only after it knocked me down over and over. Seasons are inevitable, all we can do is trust God and prepare the best we know how. God will never give you more than you can handle, but sometimes He will get pretty close. If life were easy we would not need God, but life is not easy and we do need Him. I need Him, every single day. I do not know what kind of season you are in right now, but I am here to tell you this: That God is sovereign, He is in control and you already have you need to make it through this season because you have Him. Seasons come and go, but God is forever. Accept the season you are in and look to the Lord, your strength comes from Him and Him alone.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Fallen Leaves
I compared us earlier to leaves.. We have to let go, and we have to accept where we are. But it does not end there, we have to turn around and pick up those around us. Those who are barely hanging on, or who have fallen and hit rock bottom. Those people need us, i believe that everyone is hurting, but if we only focus on ourselves then how many are left there on the ground? How many people fall and can not get back up? That is your job, that is my job, everyone has a job to look out for those who can not help themselves. We are to pick them up, dust them off and point them to Jesus. Because only Jesus can help them, but we have to get them there. Like in the new testament, when those friends wanted Jesus to heal their friend. They cut a hole in the roof of the building Jesus was in because the house was so crowded (Mark 2:4). The man needed Jesus, but he also needed someone to get him there. We have to be that person for someone. If as Christians we only look out for ourselves and we only hang out with those who have it all together, then everything we do is in vain. Jesus did not come for the healthy He came for the sick. We are to do the same. Help those in need, those who have fallen, those who are hurting…that is what being a Christian is about.
“If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:10
Autumn is here, the Summer slump is over and we have a job to do. If we continue to do the same things we will continue to get the same results, Autumn is our awakening the time to revive ourselves and to help revive others. Do not get so caught up the festivities of the season that we neglect our spiritual well-being. Autumn is a gift form God, but this gift comes with some responsibilities. Happy fall dear friends!
Lots of Love 💕,