I love the different seasons we experience in Tennessee. Spring bursts forth exhibiting the colorful and inescapable beauty of creation, summer brings afternoon showers, warmer temperatures, insects, and the smell of fresh cut grass, fall envelops us with leaves cascading to the ground, cooler temperatures, and the fragrance of mums, while winter brings barren trees, crisp temperatures, the scent of pine, and the distinct aroma of logs burning in a fireplace—I love them all.

Autumn arrives in early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day.

Elizabeth Bowen

In life, as in creation, every season is orchestrated by God. Solomon, the writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes, understood this truth. In chapter three, entitled  A Time for Everything, he wrote: “There is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep 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 ESV

With every season comes change. Creation does not dread the changes, but embraces them; spring gladly gives birth to new life, summer’s sunshine and rains nourish the earth, and fall, along with winter, allows the plants to rest and prepare for the spectacular birth to come.

All the trees are losing their leaves, and not one of them is worried.

Donald Miller

I know women who dread the fall season. They find it depressing because they are focused on what follows fall: WINTER! Instead of embracing the rest from the intense heat of summer and appreciating the beauty of the maple trees bursting forth with orange, red, and yellow brilliance—they are focused on the dead leaves that lie upon the ground and the long cold winter to come.

You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen.

Ernest Hemingway

I have experienced each of the seasons spoken of by Solomon. Without a doubt, one of the hardest was the fall and winter season of my husband’s eleven year battle with Multiple Systems Atrophy. At first, I focused on the dead leaves that lie upon the ground—all that we had lost, rather than embracing the spring to come—the work of beauty God would bring forth in each of our lives. Over time, we came to understand that there would always be the spring, a heavenly healing for Mark and that the river would flow again after it was frozen—life, although very different without Mark, would go on—Spring always follows Winter.

If you are in a spring season of witnessing God’s work of beauty in your life—Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

If you are in a summer season of intense heat (stress) due to job loss, divorce, illness, or financial strain—Fear not, for God knows your need and He promises to provide. ( Matthew 6:25-34)

If you are in the midst of a fall and winter season suffering with emotional instability, depression, the loss of a loved one, or a terminal illness—Rest in Him knowing that He will use even the darkest of times to bring forth a work of beauty—Spring always follows Winter! (Matthew 11:28, Romans 8:28)

Dianne