Dear brothers and sisters,
I wanted to write this blog as a letter to encourage you. In my coming and going I have enjoyed the cool evenings this past week as they seem to remind me that change is ahead. Fall will be coming soon. Although fall is my favorite season and a welcome change, with its coming are bigger changes and transitions that are not so thrilling to me. In fact, I hate transition. I don’t always mind change itself, but I loathe the getting there.
For example, my husband and I are expecting our second baby the first week of November. Whereas, I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome another child into our family, the getting there, aka this pregnancy, has been very challenging. My body has seemed to boycott any kind of stability every step of the way, making hospital visits more common place this time around than I care for. I know that the end result of a healthy baby will be worth all of the suffering now, but this time of waiting and processing is really difficult. As I have experienced and continue to experience the tumults of transition in my own life, I have thought about all of you, and I wanted to tell you that YOU are seen.
I know that so many of you are going through major changes as well. Mother of school aged children, you are seen. Whether it be your first time or fifth time sending your precious cargo off for another school year while reminding yourself that God is with them even when you aren’t, your transition is important and God sees. Student getting ready to return to school, perhaps nervous/excited about the new possibilities this year, God is with you and He sees. New parents whose child still may not be sleeping through the night, the transition to sleepless nights is tough, but there is grace for you and God sees. To the grieving adjusting to life without a loved one, transition to life minus one may feel raw and unnatural but God is at hand. He knows and He sees. Whether it is transitions at work, in family, stage of life or service to the Lord as you walk on mission with Him, your sacrifices, emotions and thoughts both joyful and difficult are important.
God is at hand. I’m glad that He doesn’t just wait for us to “make it to the other side” but that He really is closer than an arms length away. In Lamentations 3:22-23, I am reminded in times of uncertainty or change that, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new EVERY morning; great is your faithfulness.” I also love that He says in Malachi 3:6 about Himself that, “I the Lord DO NOT change...” In every season of my soul, He remains the same. These past weeks I have been encouraged again by this simple truth. Our God is a steady anchor when everything else is shifting. May you be encouraged knowing that you are seen by your sister who is impacted by your lives and faithfulness, and you are seen by a God who is close and filled with compassion for you. May God’s peace guard your hearts and minds as you continue to walk with Him.
Blessings,
Sophia
