Sarah J shares some personal thoughts

Sarah J

At the turn of the New Year I felt like I was entering a new season in my life as well as a new year - some new years I don't feel any different but this year I did. The phrase from the Bible 'the Winter is over the Spring has begun' kept coming to mind. At that time, I couldn't see that the Winter had ended in terms of difficult times in my life, but was excited at the promise of Spring I felt God was giving me. I love the new life of Spring - seeing flowers and lambs and sunshine is always good! At the beginning of January I started to see some flowers peeping through in my front garden - it kept me thinking 'the Winter is over, the Spring has begun'. But then we got unexpected snow! So much for me understanding what was going on! I give out weather forecasts on the Community Choice show on Cross Rhythms and the information comes from another 'reliable' source. Sometimes when I pre-record shows I can be driving in my car and hear my weather report and realise it was so wrong! Then I feel bad that I have given out the wrong information to others! I wonder if I could become accurate in understanding and reading the weather - I guess this would be possible if I gave time to study it.

I think it's sometimes like this with the seasons in our lives too. Sometimes I know the times and seasons - other times I think I do...but I get it wrong. As a Christian I try to involve God as much as possible in thinking through what is going on for me and what my steps are in terms of life's journey. I don't want to give up when I get the times and seasons wrong - I want to know God's heart more so that I'm more prepared for the future. I think it is helpful to get wisdom from others regarding big decisions and steps in life, but just like how the weather I get from others is sometimes inaccurate, I also think it's helpful to know for ourselves the way ahead and not just rely on others. I know that like the disciple John I can lean onto Jesus' chest and hear His heartbeat for what will happen - I just have to take the time out to do this.

My Mum had her 60th birthday this January and the family bought her a special watch as a gift (as well as other treats!). Then a week later my very cheap watch broke and I needed to get a replacement. This got me thinking even more about knowing the 'times'. When we know what is on Jesus' heart we can channel our efforts into what He is doing. I decided to invest in a watch that should last more than a year! What are you investing into? I think this is a time when we need to carefully consider what we invest our time and resource in. Recently I was interviewing a leader in the city and he was talking about investing in things that last - like family and friends and other people's lives. I think this is what Jesus did - He brought life and wholeness to others. I think He was also tuned into what He was to do and what He was to leave.

I don't know what your season is right now - but I do know that if you are in a Winter where things feel cold and hard, that there is a Spring that follows. If we take time out to think through our next steps, there is a path we can take that takes us towards the life of Spring and you can always invite Jesus to help you see the next steps and take them with you. If I get things wrong Jesus is still able to make something beautiful from it. The Bible says that '..God has made everything beautiful in its own time...people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to the end'.

New years are great times to think through the future - what your next steps are in life. It can be scary as you take a new direction or an unknown path - but also exciting. You may not see the 'end' and it may be about taking the one step you can see and then waiting for the next one to emerge. Happy adventuring!