The God of All Seasons: A Lesson for Every Mom
I can recall a season of motherhood in which I said no to all sorts of things I wanted to do because I had little ones at home. I felt antsy and unproductive. Now that they’re older, I’ve said yes to far too many things, and I’m feeling scattered, diluted, and drained. Perhaps there’s a lesson on being well-balanced and learning not to overcommit in this struggle, but I also like to take these opportunities to dig a little deeper and see if God might have a bit more for us. Besides, oftentimes we find ourselves in seasons we didn’t necessarily choose.
God leads us into different seasons of life and motherhood just as he led his people, the Israelites, into different “seasons,” so to speak. While their situations were different from ours, we can learn what God was up to then and see if it applies to what God might be up to in your season.
As God was establishing his Holy nation, he commanded the Israelites to plow, plant, and harvest the land for six years. But, every seventh year, they were to remain still and let the land rest. No planting, no growing, no harvesting. Seems a bit odd for an agrarian nation not to farm for a whole year. But letting the land remain still for an entire season allowed the depleted soil to regenerate its nutrients and prepare for the next six years.
In the New Testament, we see God’s people being scattered because of persecution. Separating and diluting the early Church probably seemed like a sure way to end this new movement, but scattering the Church allowed them to reach other nations and eventually influence all parts of the world.
In both cases, in stillness and in scattering, we see purpose. We see a plan. And in both cases, we see the need for God’s people to trust in and depend on him, not themselves. If the Israelites could not grow their own food, they would be forced to completely depend on God to provide enough in the sixth year. If the early Christians could not band together and resist persecution as one force, they would have to depend on God to build his Church.
In any season, if God is calling you to be still or if you’re feeling scattered, God’s goal for you is to depend on him to get through, not yourself. It’s the self-reliant mom who’s the least effective.
May your summer be a blessed (and hopefully well-balanced) season of fun with family and dependence on God!
Xoxo,
Lauren
Share this post:
