Seasons of Life

 

“Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?

Can the child within my heart rise above?

Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life?” 

Stevie Nicks wrote these lyrics in 1973. I have listened to Landslide more times than I can count, and each time it hits right in the gut. It’s a song about change. About fear, love, aging, and the quiet questions we all carry as life keeps moving forward. 

As  I listened again recently, with the end of another year approaching, I found myself reflecting on the last twelve months. This has been a year! I’m not even sure what adjective fits best. Crazy maybe. Long. Unexpected.  Sometimes life throws so many curveballs at such an accelerated speed, all you can do is try to keep up so they don’t knock you down.  

2025 has been filled with a plethora of lessons in love, humility, fear, doubt, grief, and joy. They didn’t all come easy. But then again, we were never promised easy.  In fact, Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have tribulation.  What we have been promised is that God will be with us (Isaiah 43:1-2) and He will give us rest and peace (Matt. 11:28-30; John 14:27). And the best part of John 16:33?  The last half of that verse: “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

Wherever we find ourselves and whatever comes, may we all be able to answer the question, “Can I handle the seasons of my life?” with a confident yes! Not by our own strength, but by the power of Him who lives within us. 

Stepping Out in Faith

Last summer, I bought a brand-new pair of shoes for our upcoming vacation. They felt perfect in the store. Before we left for our summer getaway, I decided to break them in for a day. Several hours later, those expensive, comfortable shoes gave me a blister, and I couldn’t get them off fast enough.

 

The unexpected pain made me think of our faith journey. It’s easy to trust God when life feels smooth and familiar. But what about when God calls us to something uncomfortable or unfamiliar?

 

In Joshua chapter 1, after Moses had died, God appointed Joshua, his assistant, to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Can you imagine being given that task? The fear could have overwhelmed Joshua. However, God knew Joshua’s heart and what he needed to hear. In the first chapter alone, the Lord repeats the same message three times:

 

v. 6 Be strong and courageous…

 

v. 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous

 

v. 9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?

 

God didn’t call Joshua to figure it out on his own. He called him to trust, obey, and go!

 

God’s not asking any of us to lead the Israelites to the promised land because that task has already been accomplished. But He does call His followers to obedience. Whether it’s an international mission trip, going back to school, or changing careers. Sometimes, God’s instructions make perfect sense, and sometimes they don’t. What matters most is whether we will answer: Yes, Lord?

 

The rest of v. 9 says: “Do not be afraid or discouraged for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

God not only encourages us not to fear but also promises to be with us. Our courage stems from His presence, not our own performance.

 

New shoes can cause some discomfort at first. But with each step and over time, they stretch and shape to fit. Similarly, when we step out in faith, God uses that process to mold us, not for our comfort, but to make us more like Christ. It may cost us something and may not always be easy, but as we walk in obedience, we are shaped into His image.