Have you ever felt like your current life season lacks significance? Life and its seasons can be a fluctuating journey, but every season serves a purpose. Certain days can be frustrating due to the mundane tasks that seem to repeat daily. Although I do a lot of the same task repeatedly, I recognize that the discipline and consistency they require are instrumental in building something remarkable, even if the process feels tedious at times. This morning, while reading my devotional in 1 Samuel about David’s encounter with Goliath, I reflected on how David’s life seemed insignificant before his pivotal moment. Prior to facing Goliath, David spent extensive time tending to animals in the fields, a repetitive and seemingly insignificant task. His daily routine appeared mundane, always in the background, performing the same tasks.
Reflecting on his example, I am reminded that routine and discipline serve as catalysts for growth. This fills me with hope, as I recognize that even during the most challenging seasons, God is at work, shaping me for a more promising future. Each chapter of my life represents a purposeful step towards a more fulfilling tomorrow. Looking back I remember when I first became a stay at home mom and my kids were not yet school age. I would often get overwhelmed because I never felt like I had a break and I did most of the same things every day. That season of life was so hard and tedious and stressful yet as I look back it was really a blessing because little did I know my life would change significantly. I look back and I am so thankful for all the time I got to spend with my daughters raising them up, teaching them and seeing the healthy little legs running up and down the steps.
In 2020, I got a diagnosis for my oldest daughter and a year later the same diagnosis for my youngest daughter. A rare regressive disorder, called Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy which both of my girls have the Atypical form of INAD. Life changed quickly for us as my girls began to lose their ability to walk. Reflecting on the past prompts me to appreciate and find joy in each season, as every stage serves a purpose that may not be immediately apparent. Often, the beauty of one season becomes clear only when we have transitioned to another. Nevertheless, each season plays a vital role in cultivating the qualities we need. Our daily experiences and challenges are instrumental in shaping us into the individuals God intended us to be, and every season holds significance, regardless of how insignificant it may seem.
One thing life has been teaching me is that each season is significant and what we learn in our current season of life helps us excel in a future season, just like David’s story showed. It can even go down to the basics of what we do every day and how our daily habits and actions create our future. One current goal I am working on in this season of life is building my endurance through running. Running has become something I really enjoy doing, and I set a goal to be able to run a half marathon next year. I have been on my running journey for about a year and a half, and I have come so far. I remember the season when one mile was hard for me, and now I can run a mile with ease. As I look back, I am thankful for that season when I first began, and running a mile felt hard and was a struggle. I learned how to encourage and push myself forward, although it was difficult. I kept going and got better over time, and now I am able to run longer distances because I didn’t give up in the beginning season when it felt too hard.
That’s the beauty of life, growth and change. We were created to flourish and evolve and just as the natural seasons of life are transforming we should also transform and grow with each season of life we journey through. Imagine going through life not just with the thought of surviving but what if we set our minds on thriving. Imagine how much brighter the future could be. So my encouragement to you is to don’t allow your current season of life to discourage you, remember that you won’t always be in the same place and season. Be gracious with yourself and seek to understand the purpose of your season because one day you’ll look back and understand the purpose through it all.
Intentional Hope 