‘Tis the Season
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (NKJV)
“Be still and know that I am God.” In these moments, I understand that God is asking me to wait on Him. I have entered a season of overwhelming questions as it comes close to the new year.
I am not the person to rest a whole lot. I have always been the person to try to make things happen. In this season, there is absolutely nothing I can do but wait for answers to my prayers. What will happen at the end of this year? Where will I go? What will I do?
Although it might seem like it, the quiet times of winter are not selfish at all. They are times God has planned and will use to equip His children for the future. I have to accept now that God knows what is best for me. He knows my frame. With His strength we will do mighty things for Him.
However, I have to be careful because it is not I alone who is called to serve Him. He has prepared works for others to accomplish, and I may be standing in their way and hindering the work of God. So I am taking this time to pray about the areas in my life that I need to prune back. I am learning to build my strength.
When it comes time for my season to change, The Lord might have to push me out the door, because I know I will not want to leave Hiram College and all the wonderful people that He has put in my life. Let’s just say I don’t tend to transition gracefully. I resisted for two years to join NBA XPLOR, and now I can see myself resisting the next movement of God in my life—because it is scary. Yes, I did make the choice still, but it didn’t make it less scary. God had to make it so uncomfortable for me in Monroe that I had no choice but to leave. And I trust that when it is time for all of the XPLOR Residents’ seasons to change, He will make it known, and He will provide and take care of us!
Typically, it’s not rebellion that keeps us from transitioning to the new place God wants to take us. It’s often just ignorance, immaturity, or fear of change. But failing to move in God’s timing can bring unwanted consequences, such as strained relationships, financial loss, and stress. We need to work on prophetically discerning in the times and seasons we’re in and move forward only with the Holy Spirit.
Take this season! Merry Christmas!
Sarah Dowd is a 2015-16 NBA XPLOR Resident in Hiram-Mantua, OH, a partnership with Brighter Day Christian Church, Hilltop Christian Church, Hiram Christian Church, Mantua Center Christian Church, and Hiram College. She serves at Hiram College.
NBA XPLOR is a 10-month service residency opportunity for young adults ages 21-30, with the purpose of empowering young adults to discern and develop a “heart for care” as they live together in simple community, engage in direct service and justice work, engage in leadership development, and discern their vocational calls to honor the various communities they are called to serve. Learn more and apply at nbacares.org/xplor.
