Shifting of the Seasons

John 1:7 (NIV) -

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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Psalms 139:11-12 (NIV) -

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

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Galatians 6:9 (NIV) -

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

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For those who are unaware, we recently passed the spring equinox, one of two days in the year when the day and night are equal in length and the sun is exactly above the equator. On September 20th, the sun came up at 6:10am and went down at 6:10pm. That day marked a turning point in nature, and now the daytime is finally longer than the nighttime once more. When I realised that, I felt God drop a word into my spirit. I hope that this speaks to some of you, encouraging you in whatever season you're in.

Many of you have been in a winter season. It has been cold, rainy, miserable at times. You have lacked the passion or motivation to get anything done and, even when you do try to do something, it has felt nearly impossible. The changes you have wanted to make in your life have felt beyond you, and you've been trapped in a seemingly never-ending cycle of shame, guilt, wasted time, and wasted chances. Most of all, this season has felt dark. For such a long time, it felt like the night was getting longer and longer, like your life had less and less light. You've wanted to follow God, but even though you love him, it's been more like you're walking away from him than getting closer. You aren't spending as much time with him as you used to, you aren't reading his Word very often. You go to church, you try to follow, but when you're on your own you fall right back into that same old pattern of sin, regret, distraction, whatever it is for you.

Lately, it's seemed like a little of the light has come back, like some things have changed for the better. You've seen glimpses of the light - a couple of days, maybe a week at a time when the heaviness is lifted and you are able to walk free from those cycles. It's a beautiful feeling... until it's gone. Eventually, you slip up again and come crashing back down. Although you've seen snapshots and fragments of the light again, the darkness has still been overwhelming; it still feels like it's greater than the light.

But now.

Now, my child, I decree that there is a shifting of the seasons. The winter you have been in for so long is passing away, and the darkness is finally giving way to the light. It had never truly gone - you just forgot what it looked like, forgot that it would return. You see, I never lost sight of you in the darkness. To me, the darkness is as light, and though you couldn't see anything around you, I had my eyes on you the entire time. Where you thought the darkness had swallowed the light, I've known and have tried to remind you continually that the darkness cannot overcome the light - instead, it must submit to it. Even in the night, you still see the light - it just looks smaller and different to how you were expecting it.

Just like the days will now slowly increase in length, every day in this next season another chain will break, another shackle will fall off, and your step will be a little bit lighter. To those who have continued to seek me in their hearts through the darkness, trials, and winter, I have forgiven your stumbles and now give you the strength to not only walk but run again. You will discover a momentum and freedom that you never though possible as I clear every obstacle and accelerate your movement.

Use this season wisely, my little one. I am giving you this freedom; use it to develop disciplines, habits, and a lifestyle worthy of the calling I've placed upon your life, and set them into stone. Evaluate what you value, prioritise your practices, and make them your default so that when the winter inevitably comes once again you will be better prepared to weather the storms. Seeds planted in the winter die easily, but if you prepare well by planting and nurturing them in advance, then the seeds will have time to take root and they will not only survive the winter but continue growing through it. After each winter comes a season of harvest, and you will reap what you have sown if you have sown it well.

Your winter is turning into spring, and then into summer. The day is overtaking the night. Your momentum is coming back - use it to plant and nurture good seeds for the seasons to come.