For the past two weeks, life was different. The schedule was different. Things were rearranged. Time spent was different. The people I spent the most time with were new in my life. Everything was different. As quickly as it began, it was finished. For two weeks, the church hosted a homeless shelter. There is no going back to the way things once were. We are different. The church is different. I sit here tonight considering what I’m not going to be doing tonight. Wondering where the list of people will be, how their day went, remembering silly moments filled with Spiderman and giggles, thinking back on the first day and all that has happened since.
As we left last night, some tears were shed. The season was over. It’s often difficult when a season ends. What do you do? Sometimes you wanted to do more. Sometimes you had hoped you could make more of a dent, more of an impact. Perhaps you wish you could be able to help more, make it last more, do something different. But the season ends.
Life is full of seasons. I just finished reading Ecclesiastes 3—“to every thing there is a season.” When a season ends, God is simply closing one door because it is time to go through another. It doesn’t mean the opportunity won’t come back around; it means your work is done at this point. There is something new God has for you to accomplish. When the season ends, praise Him for what He has done. He is an awesome God! Thank the Lord! Praise His great name! Pray. Seek Him. Read His Word. Seek out what He wants for you to do next. Wait in the silence. Listen for His voice. Continue onward into the next season. You are different now. You likely changed. You’ve grown. You are ready for the next step. May He prepare the way!
Tania Gutekunst 