8. seasons
I trust that you have been well!
I'm back after an unintended hiatus from writing these newsletters, as I've been slowly learning (and very much still learning!) to work within my limits and embrace the season of life I'm in.
To be honest, these last few months have been pretty frustrating, as I've found myself in what I would call a prolonged waiting season. In hindsight, for the majority of the time, I was resisting this season. However, I can now see that God, in His wisdom and grace, was giving me the space to process things that I wasn't completely aware that I desperately needed to work through.
devotional
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Another passage I've recently discovered related to timing is from 1 Chronicles 12:32 "Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command."
The Issachar tribe not only had the discernment to know what time or season they were currently in but also had the knowledge and wisdom to know how to act and what to do during that time.
story
Last year in my first trip to Darwin, I was fascinated to learn how the Indigenous people in the Darwin region have a chart for what they eat during various seasons of the year. I was in Darwin during their "build-up" season, which is right before their monsoon season. Temperatures rise, it's sticky and uncomfortably humid, and the well-being of people can be affected during this time.
It made me think—do I feed myself different things when I'm in different seasons? I'm not simply referring to physical nutrition, but do my life rhythms and spiritual sustenance adjust accordingly?
As I sought God, He gave me these words one day when I spent some time in silence with Him. "I'm rewiring you and recalibrating what you think is good, true, and right."
Having trained as an electrical engineer, I gained another perspective to the discomfort I was feeling. When rewiring occurs, the old wires have to be removed and sometimes cut off before a new circuit is built and new wires are placed.
Some things I've learnt (and still learning!!)
Acknowledge the season that you're in. It took me a while to accept my limitations and not push hard and strive in my weakness. I had to take small deliberate steps to be kind and gentle with myself.
Comparison is the enemy of joy. I found it helpful to temporarily delete Instagram and give myself a break from constantly seeing what others were doing.
Humbly accept God's grace. I think there were plenty of moments where I felt guilty for the slow progress and fought it rather than freely receiving God's grace.
quote
"Patience is the companion of wisdom"—Saint Augustine
question
What season are you in now? What helpful rhythms can you embrace for your current season of life?
prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for always being with me—through the happy and sad times, regardless of whatever season we are facing now. Thank you for your promise that you will always be with me and will never leave nor forsake me.
Please give me wisdom to know what season I am currently in.
What do you want me to know about this season? What do you want me to do in this season?
Thank you for your constant love and presence.
Amen
Have a great week.
Love,
p.s. For those of you living in Sydney, I have some exciting news! More information will be coming out in my next newsletter. But for now, please save the date - Saturday Sept 27, 2025 @ 2pm.