Happy Fall, Readers!
A week ago, marked the beginning of fall. With it, we will soon enough begin to see the physical changes which come, such as the leaves changing from shades of green to red, orange or yellow, for instance. Moreover, the air begins to feel crisp. Fall is a beautiful season to behold. Earlier this year, I shared with you in my “Change of Season” post how I was on the cusp of a new season of life, for my long-awaited desire of marriage was coming to an end, for I became engaged to the man the Lord deemed worthy of my heart and me of his. I am now a few months into marriage, and it still feels surreal.
In closing the book on life as a single woman, the Lord opened a new book in my life, a new season. As with the previous book, this new book is beautiful. Even so, as with the previous book, there are moments where it can be difficult to recognize the beauty. What makes it difficult to see beauty in a new book? In one word: change. I shared in my “Do not Be Troubled by Change” post how when I experienced several changes in the same year, it was difficult emotionally. A few months ago, I experienced a lot of changes at once. In addition to the change of going from single my entire life to married, the change in being married led to moving to a new city, starting a new job, living in a new home, and creating a new routine.
This new book in my life is exciting. I am enjoying building the foundation of my marriage with my incredible, godly husband. Even so, I knew all the changes happening at once would be a big adjustment for me, which it has been. And yet, I did not anticipate the emotional toll it would take. The lack of familiarity in my city, my job, my home and my routine have been tough. When a multitude of changes happen, there can be a longing for what is familiar. There have been moments in the last few months where there has been longing for what was familiar. Yet in the longing for familiarity, it is difficult to recognize beauty amid change.
What do we do when it is difficult to recognize beauty amid change? A verse the Lord keeps bringing to my mind the past several days is found in Philippians. Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Two words stand out to me in this verse. The first is “rejoice.” The Greek word for “rejoice” here is “chairō,” which means, “to rejoice, be glad.” The second word that stands out is “always,” which in Greek the word is “pantote.” It means, “at all times, always, ever.”
It is noteworthy Paul, who the Holy Spirit divinely inspired to write Philippians 4:4, was in prison while writing Philippians. Paul had previously traveled around sharing the Good News to the lost, and now there he was in prison writing about the Good News. Can you imagine how difficult this change would have been for Paul? Still, amid horrible circumstances, he instructs past, present and future disciples of Jesus Christ to rejoice and be glad in all circumstances.
How can we, like Paul, rejoice in all circumstances? Something my wonderful husband reminded me of amid a difficult moment adjusting to some of the new in my life is how I can choose to focus on the good. Had Paul chosen to dwell on being in prison, would he have obeyed the Holy Spirit and written his letters? He would have missed out on reaching far more lost in prison than he did when he was out of prison.
The changes we experience will come with good moments and difficult moments. Through it all, no matter what, we can choose to rejoice in the middle of any moment. Remember, readers, there is always something to be grateful to the Lord for in every season of our lives, for He has given us many beautiful gifts. The greatest gift we all can rejoice about is the gift we have of salvation because of Jesus.
All Bible verses are from Holy Bible: English Standard Version