Seasons

Every year, I look forward to putting up my tree and cranking the Christmas music in mid-November. I don’t know many people who love Christmas music, especially new Christmas music, as much as I do.

This year after a really challenging and isolating fall, “Seasons” by Hillsong has become my mantra. It’s gorgeous, and the more I listen to it, the more the metaphors resonate in my heart and give my soul voice. The song celebrates the beauty of difficult seasons, when instead of blooming, we feel the brutal frost of suffering and isolation. These seasons are so full of growth, but man, it’s hard when we can’t see it. In these seasons we cling to the hope of the future-“certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Phil 1:6 NLT). Paul penned these words while in chains, and I am reminded of Ruth Chou Simons oft repeated phrase, that “you don’t have to be blooming to be growing”. Does anyone else feel this with me? Who feels buried and frost bitten?

I’ve had some encouraging and endearing conversations this month coming out of a really hard season, and this song just keeps echoing with me after these moments. I am so thankful for people who are willing to step into life with brutal honesty, willing to empathize with me on things they haven’t experienced, or to say “me too”! Here are some of my thoughts on the lyrics of this gorgeous song, and the beautiful connections I’ve had this month…

“Like the frost on a rose, winter comes for us all. Oh how nature acquaints us with the nature of patience”

Isn’t that the truth! Sometimes when we feel like we are blooming so brightly, full of light, love and beauty, we are hit with a really brutal bite of frost. Sometimes the season we have waited for with such longing, actually turns out to be so much different than anticipated. Sometimes we thought that winter would be looong past, and it lingers on.

Logically, I know God’s promise of using everything for his Glory and my good as he sees fit. But man,when that frost hits, I do not like it. I am doing everything I can to avoid it instead of celebrating that difficulty and knowing that it is developing perseverance,perfection and completeness (James 1:4), funny how it doesn’t say that God will make me steadfast and lacking nothing by making my life easy? Go figure.

Seeds do not grow unless they are buried. They do not receive the moisture and nutrients they need to become what they are supposed to be or accomplish any purpose, until they are covered in soil and watered.

“Though the winter is long even richer the harvest it brings… Your promise for me like a seed, I believe that my season will come”

From what I understand, every place on either has a wet and a dry season- some places just have a COLD and wet season, so instead of rainy season we have snowy season. And without that snowy season, nothing that’s meant to grow would have the moisture it needs to produce a harvest. The fall harvest is not just the result of the spring planting and the summer growing season, but also the moisture that winter brings.

As much as I hate these seasons of difficulty and loneliness, I do know they never last forever. My perspective changes. I adjust to the new normal and the things that will not go away. I learn better strategies. I seek community. Sometimes circumstances change, sometimes I change. God is not done and nothing is wasted. It’s it incredibly beautiful that there ARE seasons! “You’re the God of seasons and I’m just in the winter.” Thank you God that you’re not done yet.

“Like a seed You were sown for the sake of us all. From Bethlehem’s soil grew Calvary’s sequoia”

This week, lovely friend pointed out beautifully that often Christmas becomes a little too cute. We picture this adorable baby, surrounded by a halo with his new mom kneeling by his side (instead of wilting in a mess of post delivery exhaustion?) with adorable little animals, and we forget why Jesus came- to die. To live a life complete with all the privileges and pain of earthly bodies, and to die. To fully relate to us in the human experience even though he had every right not to.

“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.When he appeared in human form,he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Phil 2:6-8 NLT) Whoa. I’m trying to avoid all that! But Jesus came to DO that. He could have “saved us in a second but instead [he]sent a child”. Instead of dodging that, he intentionally put himself in that position. For you. For me.

Do you feel like these lyrics deeply validate your current season, too? Are they a much needed reminder of God’s character? I need songs like these, friends who are willing to have hard conversations, and empathy from community who is willing to try to“get it”. I need to be able to cry about the pain of the season, and be encouraged that it won’t last forever, but my feelings are valid. I need to find the good in the suffering, and perspective in light of eternity. It’s not one single step, it’s a million. I am thankful for Christmas, a brand new year coming up, and a God who gives me grace in all seasons.

Seasons –
Words and Music by Chris Davenport, Benjamin Hastings & Ben Tan

Like the frost on a rose
Winter comes for us all
Oh how nature acquaints us
With the nature of patience
Like a seed in the snow
I’ve been buried to grow
For Your promise is loyal
From seed to sequoia

I know
Though the winter is long even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come

Lord I think of Your love
Like the low winter sun
As I gaze I am blinded
In the light of Your brightness
Like a fire to the snow
I’m renewed in Your warmth
Melt the ice of this wild soul
Till the barren is beautiful

I know
Though the winter is long even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come

I can see the promise
I can see the future
You’re the God of seasons
I’m just in the winter
If all I know of harvest
Is that it’s worth my patience
Then if You’re not done working
God I’m not done waiting
You can see my promise
Even in the winter
Cause You’re the God of greatness
Even in a manger
For all I know of seasons
Is that You take Your time
You could have saved us in a second
Instead You sent a child

I know
Though the winter is long even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come
And when I finally see my tree
Still I believe there’s a season to come

Like a seed You were sown
For the sake of us all
From Bethlehem’s soil
Grew Calvary’s sequoia