Overwhelmed No More: Balancing Life’s Changes a 5-Day Devotional Plan By: Alicia Renee’ RobertsНамуна

Understanding Your Season of Change

Dear Enduring Woman,

What season of life are you in?

I grew up in the Midwest, where we were fortunate to experience all four seasons. We understood that certain activities could be done in the summer but not in the winter. We also knew that April showers would bring May flowers but could also lead to tornadoes.

We expected change in every season, whether we liked it or not, but sometimes, the change would catch us off guard. Occasionally, a rare snowstorm in late spring would shock and confuse us.

You may be in a hot season where everything is exciting and happening for you as anticipated, or maybe even in a cold season where it’s a bit gloomy and you’re not seeing much growth.

You may be in a spring season where you are blossoming and beginning to see some light and growth from the seeds you’ve planted. Or are you in a “fallback” season where things are changing quickly, and you feel like the days are not long enough to accomplish all you must do?

“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV).

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 makes it clear that there is a time for everything, from planting to uprooting, from tearing down to building. There is a time to be silent, a time to speak, a time to mourn, and a time to dance. God makes everything beautiful in His time.

We often experience frustration when change comes at us abruptly or unexpectedly. We can also lose our footing when there’s a significant change, like switching careers or jobs, becoming a caretaker, getting married, or experiencing a breakup. Below are some tips to help you manage these so that you don’t lose control of your “must-dos” in life:

• Talk to God about your season and understand why and how it came about.
• Ask God to help you narrow your focus so you can properly prioritize.
• Accept that you may have to give up something you enjoy to get through this season.

Wherever you are, notice what is changing and pivot accordingly. Understand that you may be called to do many things, but that doesn’t mean they must all be done at once or in this current season.

Reflection: Using the tips above, what can you do to manage your overwhelming season?