A TIMELY WORD IN SEASON
When I think of summer I think of roses, tall glasses of iced coffee and the beach. Winter again makes me long for hot soup, lots of rain, hot chocolate and thick wool socks. Walking through memory lane reflecting over the last few years of my life, help me identify different "seasons" of life. These changing "seasons" of life off course are unavoidable. They are not always the most convenient, even wanted or easy to live through but I know “summer” brings beauty and life; it will give way to “autumn” with death and deep warm colors.
The day we flew into our new City my heart was still left in Uzbekistan. I did not have the opportunity to really say goodbye and I was grieving my beloved country and friends. Coming here felt like meeting a new friend and I just did not feel ready for a new friendship! It felt like it was a “season” just too soon! As a family we walked thru the streets day after day in mid summer heat looking for an apartment with rental signs in the windows. After a while the children did not do well with the heat and walking. My husband and I would then take turns going out. I would go in the morning armed with my little paper with phrases in my new language and necessary water bottle. After a week my feet was covered in blisters. But I was determined and time pressed every morning to find a place to stay before we had to be out where we were staying.
In His timing He provided the perfect apartment for our family. It even had a fountain in the court yard! But the owner used this apartment for storage and used it at times when they came to our city. As we arrived at our new apartment the morning we arranged to move in we discovered that our landlord has never moved out as promised. We were desperate to move that day. All their stuff was still in the cupboards and heaps and heaps of things needed to be packed.
I stood in the hallway of the apartment in shock and disbelieve. We had to move in that day we had no choice! All we could do was to pack up their things and arrange with them to move it out that evening. As I walked thru the apartment anger, disappointment and hopelessness overtook me. I just did not have it in me to face this yet another mayor physical challenge. I felt so tired of all the moving around the last year, hauling our stuff thru three continents, the stress of finding a place before we had to be out where we were staying, walking the streets in the heat of summer, trying to understand what people were saying, and just living in a new culture with small children. I faintly excused myself and closed the toilet door behind me. I sat on the closed toilet seat trying to control my upwelling emotions.
I cried and cried, until I felt I could pray. All I could get out was: "Lord please, please tell me this is not Your perfect will for me for today!" I begged. I felt gently, slowly and clearly the words forming in my heart: "Karin this is my perfect will for you for today!" I sat there for a while pondering the truth in my heart.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliver my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18 verse 2.
It was as if all else fell away, I knew then that I WILL have all the physical, emotional energy I would need to get thru that day and situation. It was as if a fresh breeze of hope swept through my heart and mind, as if strength entered my body. I made a decision, stood up in faith, washed my red puffy eyes and opened the toilet door with new hope and vision.
That evening late the landlord came with a truck to pick up their packed belongings, and only then we could get going to move our stuff into our new apartment. I remember falling into bed late that night dead tired but blessed. I had a place of Refuge in a new “season”. A God that hears our every cry! A personal Friend that speaks words of truth, life and encouragement to our hearts in every “season” we face! A guide that leads us through these different "Seasons" of life and not missing the details and opportunities to teach us to hear His voice and trust in Him!
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