Seasons

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven: - Ecclesiastes 3:1  

It may take a while, but over time we learn that everything is a season. God in His infinite wisdom has set a time for everything – a beginning and ending to everything. Some seasons last longer than others, but ultimately something ends and something begins. He is the constant throughout.  

Last weekend, we helped our son, Ethan, and daughter-in-law Allie move to Charlottesville, Va for his new fellowship at UVA and her new job as a teacher’s assistant at a Christian school right by where they live. They are off to a new season in their lives, and we are excited for them and grateful that they could be here in Winston for the past 3 years. We will miss them.  

For Stacey and I, this will be a new season. For the first time in 22 years, neither of our sons will be in the same city as we are. Both are almost exactly 3.5 hours away in different directions. We have watched them grow up and been part of their lives for so long. But even in that, there were seasons. Each new school was a season. There were soccer seasons, and baseball for a while. Going to the movies together, taking vacations, sharing meals together, watching them learn to drive, high school, college, marriage. They were the seasons within the season. This new season will take a while to get used to, but it is here and also a part of God’s purposes in our lives. We are so grateful for the seasons we have had.  

When seasons change, there can be a sense of loss. We miss the familiar, the people and ways we knew. Some seasons are easier to put behind us than others, especially when that season was hard. We can be glad to move on. Some seasons are hard to leave behind because of the deep joy found there. We wonder if that joy and sense of purpose is now gone.  

But to follow Jesus is to live with anticipation and expectation in a new season. There is always something new to experience with Him, something challenging, something adventurous, something peaceful and something joyful. Part of the excitement of a new season is not knowing what is coming next. We just know He promised that it would work for good, so we move forward with eyes wide open, looking for the gifts of grace He has left for us to find.  

Bridges is moving into a new season. There are already new opportunities for people to step out to join the mission as several more have been called on to new seasons just as Ethan and Allie have. This new season is wide open with possibilities as God works in and through people and brings new people in, just in time, just as He always does.  

There are now new opportunities in Family Ministry and the Worship and Tech teams. There is always room in our teams for people to get connected. There will be new small groups starting soon, and in this new season, there will be room for people to take that step to get connected into community. One season is coming to a close and another is slowing unfolding. What will God have for us next?  

With each new season, we are reminded that time continues to move forward, closer and closer to the coming of Christ. Seasons will come and go until then. It is part of God’s purposes under heaven. In these changing seasons, we learn to enjoy Him, and turn to Him and find our peace and hope in Him. He is our anchor in every changing season.  

It is a new season. Times are changing. God is constant.  

May Christ speak to you today as you follow Him in the season you are in.