SEASONS IN LIFE

I’ve been in a weird season lately. It seems that there are always seasons in life that take us into unknown territories. These seasons can offer us a respite, or can force us to change. Sometimes they force us to grow, other times they seem to slow us down and impede our progress. These new seasons usually offer us some type of new opportunity, but not usually without sacrifice. As new things come, old thing must go. In order for us to grow, we must change. If we want navigate the currents of change we must first pull up our anchor. It sounds really easy as I write this. It sounds poetic, or (dare I presume to say) profound to talk about these “seasons”. But the reality is they’re not always so fun and are often times difficult.

I’ve had a chance these past few years to meet with a group of church planters that work with the O.C.E.F. In that circle I is the man with the most church planting experience, which is not the usual for me at this stage in my life. In that group is a man who is 2½ years into his church plant, another who is 2 years in, another who just started, and one who will start this next Spring. It’s been very interesting to see the different stages they are in.

Mike is training and fund-raising. Ben is trying to put together a team of people to help build the church. Kirk is just got the church up past 100 and planning for the future. John’s church is becoming independent of the parent organization and is really feeling a financial burden. Its fun for me to say, “been there, done that” to each of those stages. While I can’t say that each of those stages were fun, I can say I learned something through each one. And I get to play the consultant for those guys and teach them what I’ve learned. One hour each month that I get to be the expert but the rest of the time I’m dealing with the new season that I find myself in.

Right now I’m pastoring a with around 240 people on the rosters and I’ve never done it before. Some things about it are easy, some are difficult. Some things are old hat, and some are completely new. As a church we’ve had some success thus far, but I don’t want it to stop. I want to keep building, keep growing, keep seeing how much God will bless us and allow us to accomplish. I’m sometimes scared to hit that invisible wall, to stop growing, to see our progress cease. And it’s not so much a fear of failure as it is a fear of complacency.

You see when we fail to navigate our current season we either regress or stagnate. I don’t want to be who I am now for the rest of my life. I don’t want our church to freeze in time and always be what we are now. I don’t want my personal growth to hit a ceiling, nor do I want that for our church. So what’s stopping me? What might prevent me from becoming what God’s wants me to be? Nothing too alarming. Just the usual culprits of laziness, fear, pride, selfishness, distractions, and temptations. But those are always waiting for a chance to rear their ugly heads.

The thing that seems to hinder us, and prevent us from going on, and growing up, and moving into the next season is attitude. I know that sounds simplistic. But as the saying goes, “attitude determines outcome.” At everyone of the church planting stages I had temptations to quit, to run, to find something easier, or to settle for second rate. Those temptations are still there. But God desires the warrior’s heart from me, and from the rest of you men. He wants men who will sacrifice for growth, stand for truth, and work tirelessly toward the goal. He wants men who take a shot on the chin and get back up. He wants men who can learn from defeats, grow through pain, and triumph through tragedies. He wasn’t men who don’t give up.

Now we’re at the heart of it. Some of you are in difficult seasons in your marriage. You’re not gearing up for a divorce, but you’ve given up. You’re just biding your time, doing what you must, and getting by. You’ve quit on your spouse and your marriage will never flourish while you reside in that place of bitterness. Some of you feel trapped in your jobs. You don’t like what you do anymore. You show up, do what’s required, go home and do it again the next day. You’ve quit on your job but you’re still getting paid. Some of you have quit on your walk with God. You think you already know it all, or you’re content with what you have. You’ve become very devout in your “churchianity” but you’ve become complacent in your friendship with Jesus Christ.

I’m sitting in Starbucks looking out the window at the wonderful colors on the trees. I really like the fall, it’s my favorite time of year but I don’t want it to stay fall forever. I’m ready for winter, and spring and summer. I like this season, but it can’t stay fall…it’s not natural and each season accomplishes something important before the next one can begin. So it goes with you and I. You might like the season you’re in or hate it. Or you may have just settled for one that’s tolerable. But that’s not where God wants you.

God allows us to go through these seasons to grow us up. He’s refining us, honing us, carving off the rough edges. Each season that passes find us stronger, leaner, more dependent on our Maker. Each season that awaits us hold challenges, opportunities and blessings. Wherever you find yourself today is where you start. Learn what this season has to teach you. Do what needs to be done to get to the next one. And if you’re having trouble working through this season in life, find someone to talk to. Someone who has been where you are and has come through it successfully; and one day you’ll become that person that others seek out for advice.