Fall is God’s coloring book. For a short time, everything comes alive in a beautiful display. What glory! The poet Walt Whitman said it well: “Give me juicy autumnal fruit, ripe and red from the orchard.” If only we could sit on the front porch and sip pumpkin spice lattes all year round.
A girl can dream. But then reality hits. Winter is coming. It’s going to get cold and dark eventually, and I need to be prepared with wood for the fire and wool socks.
The Apostle John walked with Jesus through all the seasons of His earthly ministry, and his gospel account gives us a glimpse of the glorious peak of our Savior’s time on earth. Yes, the twelve disciples had tasted the sweet fruit of walking with Jesus, but a time of desolation was happening soon. In just a few days, the bitter darkness would descend and strip them bare.
Jesus lets His closest friends know He is going away, and in the bleak days that follow He knows they will struggle to protect themselves from doubt, fear, and discouragement. They will question everything and wonder if all they had hoped for was wiped out forever. If they did not prepare, the distress might pierce their hearts and weaken their faith.
Our journey with Jesus will also carry us through wintery seasons. One day we are up on the mountaintop experiencing a bountiful harvest of our faith. And then, an ominous cloud descends and overcasts our soul.
If you are walking through an unbearably hard period right now, let the words of your Savior infuse warmth and expectancy into your day:
“I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.” –John 14:3
Jesus wants to prepare you to live with quiet confidence even in the harshest circumstances. You don’t need to fear what tomorrow will bring. Your Savior holds your tomorrow.
You can throw doubt into the cold to evaporate as you draw near to His enveloping grace. This world will get darker, but the Lord of all the universe will provide everything you need to persevere until the end.
Let’s fire up our faith by reminding ourselves of these truths:
- I have a Father in heaven who will receive me safely into His house.
- This difficult season is temporary, but my eternal home with Jesus is permanent.
- I don’t need to be distressed because Jesus is preparing a place for me.
- Jesus never promised me that I would not face the wintery seasons of life, but He has promised to show me the way as I follow Him.
- The key to persevering through harsh seasons is to keep trusting Jesus.
- This season has a purpose: Jesus is strengthening my faith and preparing me for heaven.
We can view this season as a transitional time where God is preparing us for our glorious future. One day soon the clouds will part and reveal God’s glorious display. Our Savior will triumphantly return to take us to be with Him, and we will finally see Him face to face. We will sit at His table and enjoy the fruit of His harvest and never experience the darkness of sin again.
So, put down your pumpkin spice latte and stand up on your porch with a surrendered heart. Remember, this world is not your home, and this temporary season cannot wipe out the hope you have in Jesus. Raise your open hands to heaven and thank God for the reality that your Savior is at work in heaven, making things ready for you.
Week 2 Challenge:
Jesus promised that He is coming back. This week, write out how this promise influences how you live. Does it make you more intentional? Does it help you to have greater hope for the future? Does it place more passion and urgency on your days as you know the time draws near?
Week 2 Reading Plan
Week 2 Memory Verse
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