Our church family has walked through a lot this last year. There was a lot of laughter. And there were a lot of tears. Through it all, I am sensing this wonderful invitation from God to ask for more of him - more of his love, more of his power, more of his presence, for us as individuals, as a church family, and also for Vancouver. I am not sure exactly what all this means yet, but I am eager to respond to this warm invitation together as a church family. Over the next month, we will be talking specifically about some of the ways that we want to respond.
As we prepare for a new year ahead of us, my heart is full of excitement, faith, and a little bit of fear and trembling. I feel this deep sense of Jesus inviting us deeper into his presence, his love, and his power. I sense Jesus inviting us to ask him for more of his Kingdom. I sense Jesus inviting us to pray that our eyes would be open to see what the Father is doing in us, in our church, and in our city. I sense Jesus inviting us to ask for courage so that we can keep saying yes to him.
As I have been praying about what we should do as a church family, I felt God impress on my heart to call us to a time of reflecting on the change of seasons because I think it’s important to reflect on the season that we just walked through together as a church family and to prepare ourselves for the new season that we are entering into as a church family.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Four Spiritual Seasons
Most of you may not know this about me but I was born in Korea, but I grew up in Miami, Florida. A place of incredible sunshine and humidity. So I grew up pretty much never having experienced a real winter involving snow and freezing temperatures.
Then I went to Chicago for college. I knew that winter in Chicago was going to be colder than Miami, but I had no idea just how stinking cold Chicago gets during winter. And the first winter I was in Chicago, it was like one of the coldest winters ever on the planet, and so I got sick and I had to go out and buy this hideous looking winter coat that covered your entire body, and I basically did not want to leave my dorm ever. It was awful. God was using it to humble my teenage self.
There is something in my spirit that resonates with the changing of the seasons. It’s like, as the weather changes, as the temperatures drops and rises, as the leaves fall to ground, as the snow begins to fall, as the flowers begin to bloom, as the heat rises from the earth again, there is something deep inside of me that resonates with the seasons.
I believe that there is something very spiritual in the changing of the seasons. And I believe that there are seasons in our lives that very much reflect the seasons of the year. That there are seasons in our life that reflects the seasons of the year. I believe this is true for us as individuals, but also as a church family. So, let’s talk about the four seasons in the year.
Winter
Winter is the season with the shortest days and the lowest average temperatures. It has the coldest weather with snow and ice. Winter is a time when you might feel cold and uncomfortable. Any farmer will tell you, winter is not a time to plant, but to begin planning what to plant during the next season.
Our spiritual winter is a time of darkness. The trees are barren and the flowers have withered and died. Spiritual winter is the most uncomfortable time for many Christians. We might feel that God has deserted us during our spiritual winter, but this is the time to curl up in God's lap for warmth and intimacy. There he will give you directions for planting new crops in spring; the next season.
Spiritual winter is like the Sabbath. During spiritual winter, it is normal to feel like God is not hearing our prayers or speaking to us. We may feel like we are having a "wilderness" experience. Our inclination is to pray harder or more or anything but to remain; but must remain in the season of rest. We may feel like our life is unfruitful. But during winter, there is no fruit bearing and it is a time for spiritual rest. In winter, we remember and rest in God's faithfulness to us.
Spring
Spring marks the transition from winter into summer. In spring, the farmers begin something that will bear fruit later, much later down the road. They begin a planting season that will result in a harvest season. In spring, flowers will push through the damp soil; frogs will croak in the barely thawed ponds; and you will enjoy the feel of the first warm breeze upon you face.
Spiritual spring is the time to plant and carry out the instructions gleaned from your winter experience. From having spent time with God, you will have the spiritual and physical energy to break up the soil. Spring is the time to come out of the darkness of winter. You will see the first signs of vigor and life returning to the earth.
During springtime, we look for the leading of God in new activities and ventures into new opportunities. On the personal level, these can be activities like new ways of doing your daily devotions or new relationships with encouraging saints.
Summer
Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days. Summer is usually hot and dry. People shed their heavy coats and stay outside longer than usual. They enjoy the sun on the beach and the shade in the park. They go on vacation to get away to experience new places and new people in a new environment. Summer is the time to water what has been planted during the spring. It is also time to weed out what shouldn't be there. Summer is a time of both growth and of stillness; of hard work in the fields and of relaxing in the cool of the day. Summer is a time for both work and play.
Spiritual summer is a time of spiritual development and fruit bearing. Summer is the time to pause and reflect. It is the time to play, relax and enjoy some leisure time after you have planted your seeds. It is a time to plow up and cultivate the soil. In summer the flowers are in full bloom. The fruit is ripe and ready to be picked.
Fall
Fall or autumn marks the transition from summer into winter when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier. Children go back to school, and for some it is their first day in elementary school, high school or college. Vacation time is over for most people who work. If what has been done properly in the previous seasons, then autumn is a time of harvest for crops. Fall is a time of maturity. The leaves are turning colors of gold, red and orange in preparation for the winter. This is the time of harvest.
Spiritual fall is a season of harvest as well. As we grow in our Christian walk, we enter the fall of our spiritual life. Our walk with the Lord should be closer during this season. Provided you have been diligent during the previous seasons, autumn is the time of harvest. Autumn is the time when you will see evidence of your hard work. It is a time of harvesting and storing up for the winter.
Autumn is the time to resume old routines. It is a time of both beginnings and endings. Autumn helps us see the passage of time; that is, where we have come from and where we need to go. This is the season filled with anticipation. And if we have been obedient in the other seasons, we will reap a harvest in due season.
Autumn is a season of fruition and reaping. It is a season of thanksgiving and celebration of abundance and goodness of the earth. It is a season of encouragement as we witness the changes in God’s earth.
Reflection
I want to pause now for a few minutes to give us an opportunity to reflect on a few questions. As you think about the last 3-6 months or so, how would you describe that season for you personally and for the church family? Was it winter, spring, summer, or fall? Can you identify some things that made it feel that way? As much as there were so many good things that happened in our midst, in many ways, it has felt like a spiritual winter for us. And I’ve heard this sentiment from many of you. As you think about the next 3-6 months or so, how would you describe the season that God is inviting us into as a church family? Is it winter, spring, summer, or fall? Can you identify some things that made it feel that way?