Mamas, the change of season is inevitable. We find ourselves shifting from hot days filled with barbecues by the beach to cool evenings spent warming ourselves by a fireplace. Although summertime may be what speaks to our soul, autumn is always around the corner. The same goes for changes in our lives. In my own life, I have noticed God tend to stir things up just as I begin to get comfortable — just as I figure things out. The changing of seasons in our lives is also inevitable, but it is how you adjust and the outlook in which you have, that make all of the difference throughout your journey.

Philippians 4:4-7says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of god, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

As I enter a season of change in my life, I am finding myself spending much more time with the Lord in prayer. I have been consistently reminding myself that He is in control and that His plans for my life are greater than anything I could imagine. Although normally at this time I would be overcome with anxiety and stress, I am now experiencing a sense of peace like I have never experienced in my life.

No matter what it is that you are facing, know that by placing your faith in Him and all your burdens on Him, you, too, can be overcome with peace in the most stressful of times. In all honesty, I am proof of that.

Seek God
In seeking God through your most difficult or unknowing times, you ultimately are preparing your heart for His great works. Instead of holding onto anxieties, by seeking the Lord and placing your burdens on Him, you will be freeing yourselves of unnecessary fear so the you will be able to experience the power, love, and self-control given to us by the Lord. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Maybe you are new to seeking God or you aren’t quite sure how to go about trying to find Him. God speaks to us through our circumstances, our relationships, through music, through Scripture, and through prayer; you just need to search for Him. If you are having trouble finding Him in the midst of your time of chaos, take heart and remember the message from Jeremiah to the Exiles, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Relinquish control
As a mama, I will be the first to admit that I may have a control issue. (Hi, I’m Amity and I love being in control!) But that’s just the thing; I am not! God takes the burden of constantly being in control away, all the while sustaining us on our journey through the unknown. (Psalm 55:22)

Exodus 14:14 says: “The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still.”
Be still. It’s easier said than done, am I right mommies?! But that’s exactly what the Lord wants us to do. He wants to work in us and through us while we sit back and enjoy the ride. When you learn to turn your control over to the Lord, marvelous things will happen!

Pray, pray, and pray some more
“I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.  He freed me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

Personally, it is through prayer when God speaks the most clearly. He has brought forth so many answers to lingering questions that I have had for years; He has released me from my fears and made me see that He is the one in whom I should be placing all of my trust. Prayer has brought me closer to my husband and to my children. Prayer has helped me to see that I am ultimately not the one who is in control and that I need to allow God to follow through with the amazing plans He has for me. Praying is humbling. Praying is refreshing. Mamas, above all else, pray.

Allow your walls to crumble
What could possibly be scarier than witnessing your walls of protection crumble around you? I cannot think of many things more stressful than Daniel’s situation as he was thrown into the lions’ den. Consider for a moment his faith in the Lord as he was face-to-face with a lion. (Daniel 6:16-18) How amazing! Would you be courageous? Would you have doubts in the Lord’s ability to keep you safe?

What happens next is even more incredible!

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make adecree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fearbefore the God of Daniel,
for he is the living God,
enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
and his dominion shall be to the end.
He delivers and rescues;
he works signs and wonders
in heaven and on earth,
he who has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. (Daniel 6:25-28)

This potential disastrous event was made wonderful all because of Daniel’s allowance to let his walls of protection crumble and to place all of his faith in the Lord. When you turn it all over to God, not only are you giving the Lord the opportunity to set you free (Psalm 118:5) but you are also allowing non-believers to see the way God works wonders in our lives; which draws them closer to Him.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
I discussed this passage here; it is a favorite of mine!

God may drag us through the snow only to show us the tulips of spring but if we don’t give him the opportunity to do so, we will never fully appreciate the beauty of the blossoms. When you feel uneasy about a new season on which you are about to embark, keep your eyes peacefully set on those tulip buds. May this season be your best!

Blessings,
Amity