“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, ESV

Something magical is happening all around us. For those of us in North America, we are experiencing something that seems to capture our attention and surprise every year.

The season is changing from summer to winter, but in between, we get this beautiful period, these few magical weeks of transition called Autumn.

All the Things that Happen in Fall

There are a few things that happen when the seasons change from one to another. The temperature changes, the foliage changes, the behaviors of animals all around us change, and suddenly we feel new.

When the season changes from summer to fall it’s a necessary transition. If our nights went suddenly from 70 degrees to 15 without the bit of 40s and 50s in between, many of our plants would die. Microbial life would flounder without the limbo we call autumn.

Wildlife, plant-life, and human life depends on this transition for survival. In many ways, we do so in our personal lives as well.

The Power of Embracing Change

None of us like change.

Fall is my favorite time of year and I still loathe bringing down the long-sleeves and hoodies from storage.

Something I’ve noticed about myself and others, though, is how wonderful it feels when we start something new.

The new day is always exciting even though we have nightly chores. Winter is always a welcome change even though the season leading up to it is filled with stress and preparation.

When we embrace change through transition, we empower ourselves to adapt, take charge, and plan ahead. Through preparing for the future, we empower our future.

When you get stressed out about it, turn to scripture.

In Ecclesiastes 3 above, we see there is a season for all things. So, what season are you in?

Are you in a busy, rushed, or stressful season?

Are you in a season of growth?

Are you experiencing a season of pain or grief?

I encourage you to read through the passage above and think about what season you’re in and how God has shown up for you where you are.