Monday, January 03, 2005

The Weather, It Is A-Changin'

While the calendar says it’s January, a step outside seems to prove otherwise. Here in Montgomery, temperatures are hovering in the low to mid 70s. It was about 30 degrees cooler a little over a week ago—go figure. It’s amazing to me how quickly the weather can change.

Just look at the devastation of the sudden earthquake and subsequent tsunamis that swept across Asia last week. One minute the ocean is peaceful, placid; the next minute, a huge tidal wave is churning onto land and demolishing everything in its path. Thousands lose their lives. Many who survive instantly find themselves homeless, orphaned, devoid of any possessions.

While it’s a tragic situation, it also speaks to the power of God. Even the apostles were amazed at Jesus’ command of nature—in Matthew 8:27, after Jesus calms the storm, they remark, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

The remarkable speed with which even the weather seems to change is indicative of how quickly God can cause change in other areas. So many times I get bogged down in a seemingly endless season, thinking that certain situations or emotions are never going to change. Then like a sudden storm, God moves and rearranges my landscape.

The seasons of our life DO change, sometimes slowly, sometimes with lightning-fast speed. It helps me to remember that these seasons WILL change, that they are only temporary and that change is around the corner. The challenges that I face today may last a day, may last a week or months or even years, but they won’t last forever.

This also reminds me that because life is so short and because the unexpected can happen, I need to make the most of each day that God gives me. I waste so much time wanting my current season of life to change, instead of appreciating it or taking advantage of it. There’s a reason for the season that we’re all in right now. God knows exactly how long to keep us in it, and when to bring about change in our lives. Trust that the One who knows when to bring rain and when to bring sun to the Earth knows just what your life needs every day.

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