Last week, my mom was in the hospital for stroke symptoms. Thankfully, it was a mini stroke, but it was the beginning of a new season for us. I can no longer pretend my folks are in their 60s when they are firmly in their mid-80s.
Needless to say, I have been reflecting on what it means to move into a new season. During this reflection, I have been reading in scripture about the Israelites coming out of bondage in Egypt, living in the wilderness, and preparing for the promise land.
For some reason, I’ve always equated the wilderness with wandering and waiting, but this was a rich time. There are hundreds of pages of God’s direction for their lives. There was a consistent reminder of God’s provisions and a calling forward. This was far from a time of limbo before they walked into the promise land. This was a rich and fruitful season—in spite of the occasionally blatant moments of disobedience. Sometimes, I can relate more to the disobedience than the obedience.
This was not just a season of grinning and bearing it. There was a distinct shift—a movement I have seen for myself as I moved out of one season and into another.
They moved away from:
- Self-sufficiency
- Busyness
- Pain
Where do you feel these three areas in your life right now?
They moved toward:
- Trust
- Rest
- Healing
Where do you feel your life moving forward in these ways?
The Israelites’ life in bondage was one of survival. They were constantly pushed to do and create more for a wicked master. They did what they could to survive as a people and as individuals. There was a near-constant painful groaning that this was not God’s plan for their life.
While the groaning surely continued in the desert, there was a drawing forward, a shift into a place of learning to trust God, and a learning to live and move in a place of resting after being forced to work 7 days a week in bondage as slaves under Egyptian rule.
As I move further away from a life of busyness and into a life living and working from a place of rest, I almost hear that audible voice calling me forward. It sounds something like this:
“Johanna, I’ve wanted to give you this gift for years, and I’m so glad you are finally embracing it, not just for your health but as an act of love for those around you.”
What is the voice saying to you as you move into a new season?
To connect with Johanna Stamps, visit her directory profile at
https://www.catholiclifecoaches.com/johanna-stamps
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