Sowing and Growing
I’ve been blogging for 10+ years and at a few points in my life I’ve written about seasonality. In an old blog nearly 11 years ago to the date, the undertones are patience and contentment. Marilyn in 2013 was in a much different season, an excerpt:
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“The holidays are nearly here and it’s a great time of the year; a time all about family, friends, and good food. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on a different season: this season of my life. It’s marked by a demanding job, a new city, new friends, and singlehood. It’s amazing how things can be going pretty well in our lives in numerous facets and we will zero in on one area that may not be where we want it to be. I think singlehood resonates with a lot of us because it is such a vulnerable state; we feel alone.
It’s when we focus on other people’s blessings that we miss our own. I’m 22. 22. I have to let that sink in. I may not be married with kids or engaged, but I’m blessed. I have a really good job, I’m pretty much independent and pay all my bills, and I’m free to do and hang out with whoever I want, whenever I want. My life won’t always be this worry-free.”
I think the bottom line comes down to contentment.
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4: 11-13)
That’s something I can latch onto and really try. These days I’m trying to say what I’m thankful for every day and whenever I get done reciting the list, I see how numerous my blessings are and how few my problems are. This whole contentment thing is a daily thing as is the Christian walk in general.”
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I’m in a different season now, one marked by marriage and parenthood; I have much less time to myself. In digging into my previous blog, I can see I need a return back to patience and contentment. In this season of my life, the patience and contentment applies to being in a state of beyond where you heard the promise but not quite to its fulfillment. Notes from a previous Steven Furtick message encourage me in this current season:
God’s promises look different than I picture. They happen slower than I want. They are further than I thought.
Let the One who set the destination control the ETA.
I want to really chew on the words “patience” and “contentment” and make them rallying cries in difficult moments. Moments when it is quiet and I am not in a reaping season. The inspiration for this blog was the phrase “sowing and growing.” In this season where it may look like God isn’t doing much or it's quiet, I need to take on a character of faithfulness.
Right now I am in a great 12-week study at my church. We are challenged each week to memorize a verse or two of scripture. This challenge has shown me that, wow I can memorize things, but also that scripture is a major key in unlocking God’s power in my life. Our most recent verses:
“All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8)
I am excited to continue to plant God’s Word on the inside of me and to see what fruit it yields. In this season, I hope to reset my eyes on success in God’s eyes and not the world’s.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)
As Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 1:1-3 show, Godly success is found in meditating on His Word. What a great place to start in whatever season of life we find ourselves in!
If you find yourself in a season of waiting, know that waiting isn’t a punishment from God but a gift in the form of time to prepare.
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7: 9-11)
