these times are but a season

The past few months at work have been, well, difficult. There have been a great deal of changes recently, and unfortunately in light of those changes frustration has become the norm.  Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond thankful to not only have a job, but to have one that is in my field and that has been a huge financial blessing for us the past two years.  It’s been seemingly impossible however to learn how to overcome the frustrations and lack of acknowledgment, while maintaining a level of performance and quality that is expected, if only form myself…

I tend to think of times in my life that radically differ spiritually as seasons, and this has brought a great deal of comfort and understanding to my journey. I have never thought of that in other areas of my life before until quite recently.  In reflecting on the renewal & restoration of a friendship that was broken, I’ve begun to see clearly that the period of time where our friendship was more or less nonexistent was merely a season of winter waiting for the refreshing growth of spring.  And this is when it occurred to me that these “seasons” were evident in my academic, fitness, marital and professional life as well.  And that while all these seasons, much like those marked by a change in weather, were not always a change from good to bad, but simply a difference it the one preceding it.
Now while this realization has been rather helpful in at least understanding these frustrations, I have by no means fully mastered the art of not complaining or getting emotionally worked up about them. (Just ask my incredibly sweet husband who listens patiently to my venting and consistently speaks sound wisdom into me all the while submitting to my need to snuggle & get some margaritas. He’s pretty much amazing.)  Another thing that has brought comfort to me has been a song that has frequented my playlist through the course of this season.  It originally was the beat and not the lyrics that captured me, but soon this became the cry of my heart, and the answer I needed to hear the most.

I know I need YouI need to love YouI love to see You, but it’s been so longI long to feel YouI feel this need for YouAnd I need to hear You, is that so wrong?
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Now You pull me near YouWhen we’re close, I fear YouStill I’m afraid to tell You, all that I’ve doneAre You done forgiving?Oh can You look past my pretending?Lord, I’m so tired of defending, what I’ve becomeWhat have I become?
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
I hear You say, “My love is over. It’s underneath.It’s inside. It’s in between.The times you doubt Me, when you can’t feel.The times that you question, ‘Is this for real?’The times you’re broken.
The times that you mend.The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.Well, My love is over, it’s underneath.It’s inside, it’s in between.These times you’re healing, and when your heart breaks.The times that you feel like you’re falling from grace.The times you’re hurting.The times that you heal.The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.I’m there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.I’m there through your heartache.I’m there in the storm.My love I will keep you, by My power alone.I don’t care where you fall, where you have been.I’ll never forsake you, My love never ends.It never ends.”
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

-Times by Tenth Avenue North