Seasons

Morning Thoughts

Sharing a new podcast episode with you all! I hope it encourages you and causes you to reflect on your purpose.

Good morning! I am excited to share another episode of The Will to Wake Up podcast! Enjoy my morning ramblings and let me know how you’re doing!

Link: https://anchor.fm/hannah-chung4/episodes/Morning-Thoughts-e12lb8e

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11

What You Already Have

Are you struggling to make sense of the season of life you are in right now?

I know that I talk about this a lot, but in a world full of fear, anxiety, stress, and comparison, it’s important to put life in perspective for a moment.

Don’t forget about what you already have. Don’t waste the season that you are in right now.

I’m currently towards the end of a Bible study about trusting God through different seasons of life. One key topic really stuck out to me. The best part of the journey is not the end destination, but rather how you are growing closer to God and as a person on your way to that destination. (Terkeurst)

The thing is, we are always so focused on the next best thing. We hear about a social gathering and we start fretting over whether or not we will be invited. We get a new job and already start wondering if we will get a promotion. We meet a new person and suddenly wonder what they can do to better our lives.

But the issue with that kind of thinking is that we are too focused on two things.

Our plan over God’s plan
Not appreciating what we already have

Our Plan Over God’s Plan Will Lead to Heartbreak

When we think that we know better than the One who created the entire world with everyone’s best interests in mind, we start believing that we are better than God.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. When you prayed last night that God would give you that new job, new relationship, or magically make everything work out the way you wanted it to, you were not actively thinking that you were better than God. But the truth is, that’s what we are telling God when we want Him to go along with our plans instead of us trusting what He has already planned for us.

You see, regardless of our attitudes, God’s plan will happen. But if we think positively and work through these seasons willingly, we will have so much more fulfillment than if we drag our feet through the whole process. And who knows, if you start wondering how God will use this season of your life instead of just dreading every part of it, you may find new opportunities that are even better than what you hoped for.

Two beings are harmed when we go along with our own plan instead of God’s.

That would be you and God.

Your heart will be so much more fragile if you only feel loved by the people you accept and if you only feel satisfied when things go your way. But if you keep an open mind when God tells you “no”, and actually celebrate God thinking ahead and closing a door for you so that you don’t travel down the wrong path, then you won’t ever have to experience that dark place that we can so often find ourselves in when relying on our own strength.

But you will not only break your own heart when you follow your own plan. God’s heart will break too. He loves you so much that He died for you, and when you don’t trust Him even after all He has done for you, then how do you think that makes Him feel? Like you don’t love Him or trust Him despite how He believes that you handle whatever comes your way.

The Penalty for Not Having Gratitude

You might have read that title and thought…huh? I don’t want to feel guilty today! I’m not ruining someone else’s life by not feeling grateful!

And you’re right, in some respects. This isn’t to make you feel guilty. We all struggle with complaining and having trouble seeing life in the “big picture”.

But the one you are hurting, my friend, is yourself, when you don’t appreciate the season of life you are in right now. You will miss out on so many opportunities that God is placing in your heart if you are only focused on the future. When you look back years later, wouldn’t you like to think that you made the most of every season of life you’re in? And who knows, this season may end up being more fruitful than you expect.

Best of all, if this feels like a season of waiting for you, then you have the opportunity to really focus on your relationship with God. You never have to wait to do that! Spend some time with Him today and think about where He might be guiding you.

Today, I hope that you can feel encouraged that God has an amazing plan for you, no matter what the world tells you. God wants to use you in incredible ways, you just have to listen and trust. Every day is a fresh start, so mark today as a new beginning for you. A new path that will take you closer to God and will help you remember that no matter what life throws at you, you are not in this alone.

The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

Just a Little Thing

I was inspired by the newest member of my family for this post– Rocky. He’s a two month old puppy who is anything but obedient. He is incredibly dramatic, playful, energetic, smart, and strong-willed. We love him, but it’s very frustrating when he doesn’t understand why we want him to do certain things, like oh I don’t know, maybe use the bathroom outside or not chew up things that don’t belong to him…!?

Sometimes we have to put Rocky in the crate in order to give him alone time to think about what he did wrong and why he needs us to train him. He hates it, but generally he feels better when he calms down and rests.

God gives us seasons where we are stuck (hello quarantine) or unable to fully function the way we want to. Other times, He might cause us to take the time to realize we need to turn to God alone, and not other sources of distraction. It’s up to us, though, whether we will grow and be able to move on from those seasons, or if we will scream and fight our way out.

Rocky is only four pounds and it’s pretty funny (although it gets old really fast) when he tries bossing us around, especially during mealtime. He thinks he deserves things that may hurt him or he isn’t ready for yet. He doesn’t always realize the power we actually have over him and how tiny he truly is in the grand scheme of things.

I think I struggle with this a lot, and you might too. My feelings are so strong, my desires seeming to be so valid, that I forget how minuscule I am in comparison to this entire universe. I forget that I barely know anything next to the Creator of the world. I need to step back and appreciate what God is telling me to do, because He, just like with us for our puppy, wants the best for us. He doesn’t want us to get hurt, but He may allow us to have difficulties in order to learn from them.

Today I challenge you to step back from a world centered around yourself. Instead, think about what God might have for you and what He is calling you to do. We all have a greater purpose that allows us to have a bigger impact.

Whether one door closes or another is opening, God has a plan for everything. We may not understand why things are happening the way they are right now, but eventually I hope you can see that God has been with you and will be with you every step of the way. You can have hope and comfort in the fact that God is in control of your life, no one else.

You will be taken care of.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Seasons Don’t Last Forever

I have resolved to live, not just endure, every season of my life.
~Anonymus

I’ve been thinking a lot lately, and I’ve realized how easy it is to get stuck in our thoughts. We can be stuck in the past, present, or future.

Past

A problem that comes up when we are stuck in the past is that we torture ourselves by reliving things that can no longer be changed. We are embarrassed, worry about whether people remember certain things, and are just simply harming ourselves.

However, it is important to use the past to help us not repeat mistakes. It is also wonderful to reflect on how far we and others have come, and how God has answered prayers. When we feel bored or drained, it can be beneficial to remember the good times and feel hopeful for the future.

Next time you feel stuck in the past, I suggest looking ahead towards the future. Start planning out your goals and think about what you can do instead of what you can’t. If you are feeling reminiscent, then focus on how you can learn from the past instead of just beating yourself up on past mistakes.

Present

Being “present” is vital, but there are issues when we get too focused on only the present. It can makes us feel stuck, hopeless, and unmotivated. Especially during a time when we are experiencing new things that are not all pleasant, it’s easy to feel like this time will never end.

However, I promise you, it will. Make the most of the extra time you have with family, and see if there are ways you can reach out to others. We don’t have to let ourselves get stuck. We can change our lives no matter what stage we are in!

Good things about being present in every season is that you are aware of what’s going on around you and you are able to live fully. Enjoy every moment and appreciate all the things that God is doing in your life.

Future

Future thinkers are often either praised or scolded for being too prepared. It can be easy to stress about the future and forget about the present, or even the past, when God has been there for us. It can be hard to pay attention to what’s going on around you when you’re solely focused on what’s next.

Slow down and smell the flowers! Think about what God is doing in the present season, not just the next one. There’s nothing we can do with just worrying. Instead, we need to take action to make the now better for the future.

It’s important to plan and be prepared, but it’s also important to relax and remember that you can’t control everything that’s going to be thrown your way. We don’t have to just accept what happens to us, though. We can use it to help us grow into the people we are meant to be. So if you are busy planning ahead, that’s okay, but also take some time to remember to enjoy the moment before it passes you by.

For me, I’ve had some issues being stuck in the present lately. It’s hard to know when this will all be over. But I’ve been trying to use my time in a way that I won’t regret. You may have related to one or more of these ways of thinking, and I know it changes throughout our lives. Just remember that no matter what season you’re in, God is always working, and there are things you can do to improve it if you aren’t feeling satisfied. Don’t miss out on the life God has for you by focusing on what you can’t control.

There’s a season to move on, which can be really hard to do. I often struggle with this, wondering if by moving on, I’m missing out on something. But sometimes God is calling us to do that, because He has something even better waiting for us. Listen to His voice, read the Bible, and see if this is a season of waiting or a season for change.

If you’re going through a rough time right now, I hope you can feel God’s presence today. People care about you and love you. This will not last forever, I promise.

For those of you thriving right now, that’s wonderful! I hope that you are able to spend time enjoying this season and don’t worry too much about when it will end. All good things do have to end, but that’s only so that we can move on to something even greater.

So, make the most of the season you’re in! It’s a gift from God, whether it be fond memories or a time to learn.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal.”
Ecclesiastics 3:1-8