Dear Friends,
How can it be November already? I felt a bit guilty the other day as I remembered how I longed for cooler days when we were going through a series of mini heatwaves in the Summer. I longed for a day when I would feel a bit chilly and I could put on a coat when going out or snuggle up under a warm duvet when it was time for bed. It doesn’t seem that long ago when I didn’t want to venture out because I knew the heat would hit me, and when I did, I carried a parasol to protect me from the sun. I remember clearly how difficult it was to get to sleep as the temperature didn’t seem to drop much, even at night. How I longed for Autumn!
I hope I wasn’t wishing my time away, as Autumn seems to have come very quickly. I should have known better, shouldn’t I? I know that each season will come, and that there is a time for everything. ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
At the time of writing, we have recently celebrated our Harvest Festival, and the Bible notes I have been reading have followed this theme. I have been reminded of God’s perfect timing and that by recognising His perfect timing in all creation, we can also see His perfect timing in each season of our lives. We must remember that only God can see the bigger picture, and so we need to trust Him. When we cannot understand why certain things happen, we must pray for patience and believe that He is working to make all things good.
Busy, modern life can disconnect us from the faithfulness of God’s provision, yet every harvest, every rainfall, each new season, remind us just how dependable God is. He who controls the weather and sends us each season at the right time will also be there for each one of us, meeting our daily needs.
The Bible notes I have been reading describe God’s creation as ‘Cosmic Clockwork’, where ‘the moon phases, sunrise, sunset and changing seasons all follow His perfect order.’ By remembering this, when things happen in our lives that momentarily cause chaos and threaten to overwhelm us, we must look up and know that the same God who keeps planets in order can bring order to our circumstances too.
Isaiah chapter 40, verse 8 says: ‘The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.’ This verse seems helpful as we think of the changing seasons and as, this month, we focus our thoughts on Remembrance. In this verse, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah reminds us that while nature’s beauty fades with each season, the words of Scripture remain an unchanging truth. This verse brings comfort during times of loss or change. In difficult times, when a loved one dies, when a relationship ends, when we encounter health problems or any changes in our personal circumstances, we must remember that God’s promises never expire. The same Word that comforted believers centuries ago speaks to us today, just as powerfully.
As the seasons change and as we turn our thoughts to remembering those we have lost, and reflect on other times of loss and change, may we be strengthened by God’s Word which endures forever.
That same God who sends each season at the right time and whose power is greater than anything we can ever imagine cares for each one of us. That same God knows us all by name and holds each one of us in the palm of His hand. He has promised He will never leave us and that He will always be with us… even to the end of time.
May this bring us comfort and peace.
With every blessing,
Jenny Gibbs