It’s already October, and if you’re like me, you eagerly watch the trees during this time of year to see when they’ll begin changing. As autumn leaves begin their gentle transformation from green to gold, amber, and crimson, I can’t help but think of my own life reflected in nature around me. Nature has a rhythm—a constant cycle of renewal and transformation. This year, however, the changing of seasons means something different to me.
Last fall, my family began walking through a difficult season. It was the time when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. It was sudden and brought a chill that seemed far colder than the crisp fall air. The world outside was filled with the beautiful colors of change, yet our hearts were heavy, overshadowed by the unknown.
Winter came, and with it, my dad’s health declined. It was as if the starkness of the bare trees reflected our own sense of loss. The bitter cold felt sharper, and the dark evenings seemed to stretch longer. The final blow, when he suffered a trans ischemic attack on Christmas Day, came at us in total darkness. He passed away 12 days later, when winter spat ice from the skies. I remember thinking how fitting it felt—everything seemed to be stripped away, laid bare. Cold.
As I look back now, I realize how even in the darkest winters, God’s hand was present, steadying me. In the starkness of loss, there was still a quiet, almost sacred beauty. There were moments of connection, love, and gentle care that carried us through—small glimpses of God’s faithfulness.
And now, as autumn returns, I find myself reflecting not just on the loss, but on the hope embedded within every change of season. Spring did eventually come, as it always does, bringing new life and new beginnings. Though it doesn’t erase the pain of winter, it reminds me that God’s story doesn’t end in loss. Just as the leaves fall to make way for new growth, the seasons of our lives bring both endings and beginnings, each held in God’s loving hands.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.” This year has taught me the truth of this verse more deeply than I ever wanted to know. It has reminded me that the seasons of our lives—whether joyful or sorrowful—are all known by God. He is with us through the bright days of summer, the dying embers of fall, the long nights of winter, and the hopeful shoots of spring.
I think of my dad often as the leaves change this year. I see the beauty in the process of transformation, and remember his transformation, like the leaves, from healthy to fading, and then gone. I am learning that the same God who paints the trees with colors of glory in autumn is also the One who walks with us through every season, even death. He brings beauty even in the letting go, and He is faithful to bring us through to new life.
For those of you going through a season of change—whether it’s filled with vibrant colors or feels like the quiet starkness of winter—I pray that you find comfort in knowing that God is present in every season. He is the One who brings life from what seems lost and who brings hope when the world feels dark. As the leaves fall this autumn, may we remember that they are not falling in defeat but are preparing the way for what’s to come.
God has a purpose for every season, and He will be with us through them all.
A Pray Activity for Fall
Each time you see something beautiful in nature this fall, consider what God is telling you through it. Do the colors of the leaves bring up emotions? What do you see around you or your home that brings joy to the chilly days of fall? Take a moment to walk alone or with your family at least once per week to note the changes from week to week. Try doing this on Sabbath, even. Try doing it somewhere you’ve never been. Try doing it when you don’t feel like it.
