Currently we are at the 6 week mark of lockdown in New Zealand due to the Covid-19 outbreak worldwide. If you would have told me a few months back that this would be how we would be living, I wouldn't have believed you... yet here we are!
As a young girl, I was given the task by my school teacher of interviewing a family member about their life. I chose to interview my Great Grandmother who lived up the road from me as a child, and still actually have her interview stored away in our attic on a tape cassette (it's a pity I don't have anything to play the tape cassette on!). Her name was Muriel Martha Powell (nee Meiklejohn) but was fondly known by the family as Nandi, and she was a true sweetheart. Her life story was interesting, but one thing I remember vividly is her telling me about her time as a young girl living through the outbreak of the Spanish Flu. She relayed to me the stories of having to stay inside for a long period of time, being sprayed down with disinfectant and the many deaths that followed this worldwide pandemic.
And here we are, nearly 100 years later living through so many similar things. Many of us living through different experiences during this worldwide crisis depending on our country, career etc. Some countries have seen high death rates, many loved ones lives lost. Essential workers are making massive sacrifices, people are worrying about financial loss and economic uncertainty. There has been a rise in people struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness and stress. Relationships have been strained, parents have struggled. The list could go on... many people are finding this time really tough. There are also others who are loving the drastic changes to their lives. The stress has melted away as their life has been shaken to reveal what is truly important. The increase in family time has strengthened families and relationships like never before.
And here we are, nearly 100 years later living through so many similar things. Many of us living through different experiences during this worldwide crisis depending on our country, career etc. Some countries have seen high death rates, many loved ones lives lost. Essential workers are making massive sacrifices, people are worrying about financial loss and economic uncertainty. There has been a rise in people struggling with anxiety, depression, loneliness and stress. Relationships have been strained, parents have struggled. The list could go on... many people are finding this time really tough. There are also others who are loving the drastic changes to their lives. The stress has melted away as their life has been shaken to reveal what is truly important. The increase in family time has strengthened families and relationships like never before.
No matter where you fall on the spectrum, one thing is sure, with God, you can know peace and hope during this time and even thrive during this season and be a source of hope for others.
I love this verse in Jeremiah 17:7-8 (New Living Translation)
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
These verses create a picture of someone who has their life and their hope not built on the season or circumstances (the ups and downs of life) but on something/someone way more secure. Their life and hope is built on God. It shows us that they are like a tree, planted near a riverbank with its roots reaching deep into the water. Heat and drought don’t worry the tree, as they aren’t reliant on circumstances to thrive. No matter what happens in life its leaves remain green and it produces fruit. No matter the season it remains fruitful.
Through different seasons of life, the tree remains just like our faith is to remain strong in every season. But how? Here are a few thoughts to help us remain strong, no matter the season...
Through different seasons of life, the tree remains just like our faith is to remain strong in every season. But how? Here are a few thoughts to help us remain strong, no matter the season...
No Matter the Season…
Dig Deep
Jeremiah 17:7-8a says…
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.
If you want to thrive in every season, make sure your hope and confidence… your foundation is in God. We need to be like trees that have deep roots that create a strong foundation, and who’s source isn’t reliant on the weather/season that constantly changes… like circumstances in life… but in something that is sure.
Is God your hope and confidence? Or is the latest news update where you put your confidence. Is the Lord your confidence, or are your current feelings where you place your confidence? Is the Lord your confidence, or is your current employment situation where you place your confidence?
It’s so important to constantly check where we place our confidence. Circumstances change constantly (seasons come and go), and life isn’t always sure, but one thing we can always trust in is God and His word. No matter the season, God’s word is relevant and life giving.
That tree that’s roots go deep into the water in Jeremiah 17 is like you and me when we get our source of strength and nourishment from God and His word and the truth that it holds, rather than our circumstances around us.
No matter what the circumstances this tree flourishes, because its roots go down deep.
Dig Deep
Jeremiah 17:7-8a says…
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.
If you want to thrive in every season, make sure your hope and confidence… your foundation is in God. We need to be like trees that have deep roots that create a strong foundation, and who’s source isn’t reliant on the weather/season that constantly changes… like circumstances in life… but in something that is sure.
Is God your hope and confidence? Or is the latest news update where you put your confidence. Is the Lord your confidence, or are your current feelings where you place your confidence? Is the Lord your confidence, or is your current employment situation where you place your confidence?
It’s so important to constantly check where we place our confidence. Circumstances change constantly (seasons come and go), and life isn’t always sure, but one thing we can always trust in is God and His word. No matter the season, God’s word is relevant and life giving.
That tree that’s roots go deep into the water in Jeremiah 17 is like you and me when we get our source of strength and nourishment from God and His word and the truth that it holds, rather than our circumstances around us.
No matter what the circumstances this tree flourishes, because its roots go down deep.
Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT)
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
When God and His word are your source, and you let your roots go down deep to draw strength and hope from Him, no matter whether you are living through storms, droughts or whatever, you remain strong. You just have to dig deep.
Don’t be like a tumble weed – blown about by the wind/circumstances. Moving on when things get too hard… dig down deep. Be a fruitful person who stands strong during hard times and digs deep, no matter the season.
No matter the season, Dig Deep and...
Stand Strong (this season will end)
When I look back at different seasons of my life, I am so thankful some of them are over. There were seasons where I was in so much pain, confused, exhausted, dry spiritually… Yet at the time, it felt like they would never end, or life would never get better.
This season is tough – all of us are living through different experiences, struggling in our own ways or know of others who are. But we must remember to Stand strong – remain - Hang in there - You don’t know the end of the story yet! This season will come to an end eventually.
With your life, you don’t know the end of the story yet, but don’t give up – God knows the end. He’s encouraging you to not give up. The Bible actually tells us there is a good ending!
It is so important in times of shaking, to stand strong and remain – as you stand firm, draw down deep into God, you become a stabilising factor for those around you who are living through shaking times as well. Don’t give up – the story of your life hasn’t finished being written yet.
No Matter the Season, Dig Deep, Stand Strong (this season will end) and...
Embrace Each Season
During winter seasons, many trees look plain and some have no leaves. To the average person it doesn’t look like much is happening on the outside. You may feel like you are currently walking through a winter season (or living through a tornado with leaves and branches ripped right off) and there doesn’t seem to be much fruit showing in your life. You may feel hidden away, fruitless, useless or dead.
“It’s interesting to note that during winter, the sap in some trees reverse flow from the branches to the roots. Fruit and leaves may disappear on the outside, but the roots grow. While the tree may look dead, it’s never been healthier. This season is the season it builds its roots ready for the next season of fruitfulness.”
If you feel like you aren’t thriving on the outside, like you are in a prison or desert time… don’t despair. Grow your root system strong… you may feel hidden away, but this could be the healthiest time of your life to grow stronger, dig into God, his word, his presence, find nourishment for the next season ahead. Do not despise the winter seasons in life … utilise it.
This tree in Jeremiah 17 was fruitful in all seasons. Imagining us like trees… You may not feel like you have fruit to give – what do you have? You can still embrace each season and be fruitful. Maybe you have shade to offer others? Stability for those around you? A place for people to rest? You can still thrive in every season – no matter how it looks on the outside.
Whether it’s standing strong and providing stability to those around you during shaky times, being someone who provides shade for others who are weary, or providing fruit in the form of encouragement or care to refresh others – no matter what season you are in you can still be fruitful and a blessing. In every season, no matter what your life is like, you can thrive and remain fruitful, as long as your source is God and you are drawing from him.
Embrace the season – and remember your simple, small contribution to society may not be as small as you think. Dare to believe that God can use good old ordinary you and me in amazing ways – in every season of our lives, if we embrace the season we are in. In every season of life you can thrive when your source is not your circumstances but Jesus. Embrace each season and realise that you can be fruitful in each season.
No matter your age, the season of life you are in, you can be like a tree that thrives in every single season. The world needs you.
No Matter the Season… Dig Deep, Stand Strong (this season will end) and Embrace Each Season.
As you thrive in every season – you will provide stability, fruit, shade and shelter in every season to those around you. As you recognise where your source needs to be (in God – not circumstances) you will. And as we thrive, we will see lives transformed of those around us.
I’m challenging you – your fruitfulness is not for yourself – you are called to remain fruitful in every season for others… you are called to this world and the lost… Jesus came to seek and save the lost and left us with the same mission.
God has called you and me to be a pillar of hope in our families, neighbourhood, friends, schools, workplaces, society… through you, people will find hope for living life in Jesus.
You don’t need to strive or stress, it doesn’t matter what season of life you are walking through… if you press into Him, no matter what season, you will naturally thrive and you will influence those around you for God through your reliance in Him.
No matter the season – dig deep, stand strong, embrace each season and change the world with the hope of Jesus.
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