Seasons

Seasons, we all go through them. Seasons of joy, doubt, grief, pain, birth. Ecclesiastes 3 is a beautiful portrayal of the seasons we go through in life.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what 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 seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace. What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time."

I was having a conversation with my fiancé a few weeks ago, we were talking about the season of life we are in; a season of preparation with getting ready to be married, in search of a place to make our home, running a business together; and the Holy Spirit dropped a big ol bomb in my heart. He said, "Faith isn’t a codependency it’s full dependency."

*mic drop*

Well okay then Holy Spirit, thanks for that! Sheesh. Talk about something to chew on. And so I've been doing exactly that. Chewing and meditating on the word that was given to me. How true it is though, thinking about the season we are in; looking at finances, keeping the business running, in search of a home, paying for the wedding...there are so many things that are on our plates. I realized how easy it is to try and do all of that on my strength, and finding out how HARD it is to do that. Here's the thing, that's not how it was designed to be, I'm reminded of what Jesus said in 2 Corinthians 9. "But he answered me, "My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness." So I will celebrate my weakness, for when I'm weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me." Ok ok ok I hear you, "Ariana, who wants to celebrate in their weakness?" I oftentimes think the same thing, but that's where our faith activates right? We recognize and understand that we truly cannot do anything without the power of Christ through us. Let's be honest here for a second ok? Who enjoys running on empty? No takers? That's what I thought. I know that especially in this Christmas season, it can be really tough on many people. There are so many reasons why the holidays are draining to people, I don't think I need to list any reasons because you had a whole list before I could finish this sentence lol.

"So where does all of this lead to in what the Holy Spirit told you, Ariana?" Well, thank you for asking, friend, lemme explain it to ya! As a believer, someone who loves the Lord and wants to follow Him wholeheartedly, I don't want to be codependent, because that causes me to treat Him like Santa, only asking for the things that I need and that's it. No, I want to be fully dependent on Him. Coming to Him with EVERYTHING, in EVERY season. The good, bad, ugly, and pristine. I want to fully know that He has my best interest in mind because in case you didn't know, He most certainly does. He has some big love for you, my friend. Faith is complete confidence or trust in something or someone. I want that big faith, that complete trust, despite what season I may be in. Right now, I am in a season where I am CLINGING onto the Lord, because I know that everything that is needed, will be supplied from Him in His timing, and that timing is perfect (even if we don't think so). And I don't want to miss anything that is coming my way, plus...He's the best to be close too.

So let me conclude with this. It's okay if you find yourself in a tough season right now, it's fantastic if you feel like you're thriving and on top of the world, but no matter the season; be fully dependent on the Lord. I promise He won't disappoint.