Falling Into Beautiful
Don’t you just love the outdoors!
I have, and always will be a country girl at heart. It was nothing for me to be trail riding on horseback at age 3, hunting with my very own rifle at age 8, and tending cattle throughout my childhood. I spent many a Thanksgiving on a dusty, west Texas ranch with my family for deer and turkey season, and even then …. the woods …. nature …. GOD’s creation, called out a stillness in me I would forget about until I was there again. GOD meets me amidst the rustling leaves, and dancing trees; infusing me with newness and refreshing I didn’t even realize I needed.
I genuinely enjoy all of creation. Everything from the crashing waves of the ocean, lush rolling hills, and thick green forest, to my most favorite of all …the fire kissed leaves of fall. Each is exquisite in their own right.
A few years ago, on the way home from our annual pastoral retreat, my husband and I meandered down the fall adorned mountain. We were savoring and breathing deeply of the crisp mountain air; soaking up our last moments of fall for the year, when God sweetly revealed himself to me through something as simple as the leaves of fall.
Don’t get me wrong; I love the striking, green landscape of Spring. Spring is vibrant, filled with life; brimming with buds and blooms that even the most elaborate camera struggles to capture. Still, I am most partial to a mountainside ablaze with varying shades of gold, amber, and crimson. As I relished in their beauty and splendor that day, GOD whispered to my heart… have you ever noticed the beauty and diversity of the autumn leaves? Although they are nearing the end of their life, they are indeed the most beautiful just before they die.
“It’s in the sweetness of life lived, years and seasons gone by, struggles won and lost that we truly discover what’s most important.”
Can you see the parallel to our lives?
It’s in the sweetness of a life lived, years and seasons gone by, struggles won and lost that we truly discover what’s most important. Like nature survives droughts, floods, freezes, and fires, we, GOD’s daughters, walk through various seasons throughout life too.
Seasons of dryness and drought, feeling void of His presence — seasons when we wonder if He’s even there.
Seasons of flooding when life is living us rather than us living life, and we just can’t keep up.
Frozen, desolate seasons that leave us feeling cold, dark, and empty inside.
Seasons where the fiery trials of life refine and correct us so that there is less of us and more of HIM.
Seasons of sweet reprieve, teeming with new life and rest; brimming with joy and beauty.
Each of these seasons pass.
None of them are intended to last forever.
It’s in the summation of these moments that we get a glimpse of, and begin to walk in the beauty of who God created us to be. There’s no substitute for life lived and time spent with our Abba Father. It can’t be bought or manufactured; there aren’t any apps or shortcuts. We’ve just got to give time…some time.
Father, we thank you for every season of life, no matter how hard it may get. We thank You because we know that You waste nothing and have a purpose for everything. We trust as it says in Jeremiah 29:11 that all Your plans for us are good; that Your plans are for our hope and our future.
Father, please help us to trust and honor you no matter what season we’re in, always remembering we can do anything for a season–not forever, but a season with Christ as our guide and ever-faithful Father.
Thank you ABBA, that with you, we are always falling into beautiful!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflections:
What season are you currently in?
Now, pray and ask God what it is that HE wants you to learn from this season, and trust Him to be with you every step of the way.
Anita Cook, a spunky Texas native, serves in full-time ministry alongside her husband, Sandy at Deep Creek Community Church in sunny southwest Florida. Anita’s heartbeat is to see women discover who God created them to be and to walk passionately with the Lord. Nothing brings her more joy than seeing women walk victoriously with their King. Her story is one filled with restoration, new beginnings, and the grace of God as He turned ashes of pain into a beautiful, vibrant ministry. Anita is a mother of 3 amazing boys, Nana to 3 special grands & a dog mom. She just loves whipping up tasty meals for her houseful of fellas and friends.