It seems like I am shocked every year by the sudden appearance of fall. One minute the sun is shining warmly and the next second the air is crisp and cool. One day, I am dressed in shorts and tank tops and the next I am unpacking my sweaters.
It is only when I look backwards that I can see the tiny signs of autumn’s approach. The leaves on the maples started turning from green to orange weeks ago and my garden plants started going to seed at the same time. How did I miss the signs of change? And, how do I repeatedly miss them every year?
This year, as I marveled at the sudden approach of fall yet again, it hit me that I do the same thing with pretty much every change God brings into my life. Every challenge and every refining moment seems to jump at me with a suddenness that takes my breath away.
But, is that really true? Looking back, I can see the signs that have led to my present situations and how God has been preparing me all along.
Just as he slowly starts the changing of the seasons, he has been busy in my life preparing me for my new seasons. The situations I find myself in may seem sudden, but looking back I can see the subtle ways God has been arming me to handle them.
And that knowledge is truly humbling.
Knowing that the God of all creation has had a plan for me all along and that He has knit all things together for that purpose is mind-boggling. I need to keep that in mind when things seem to leap into my life suddenly, things that I don’t feel prepared to handle. For, with God by my side, I am prepared.
I am amazed at all the sudden events I have survived in my life and it is only in hindsight that I can see that my Loving Father was getting me ready for the “suddenness” all along. And, just like the signs of the changing seasons, I ignored all the “prep work”.
I’ll bet you are the same way, for we are all capable of amazing things. And, I’ll bet that when you look back, you can see God’s hand in preparing you for your unique situations.
I am human so l will probably still be surprised repeatedly during the rest of my life, but I’ll try and remember that I am more prepared than I realize, and that the changes that come aren’t really as sudden as I thought they were. For, perhaps we were being prepared for such a time as this all along.
Read more of Ann’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
