New Mercies.
“Living a full and beautiful life means letting go of the controlling grip we have on what happens in our lives. It means opening our hands to Christ and His new mercies that endlessly flow toward us.”
Fall is my favorite season and is probably the best season (sorry I’m biased!!). The leaves are changing. The weather’s cooling down. There’s football on the TV. Families are taking their kids to every sporting event created. It’s sweater weather (!!!) Time feels like it operates at a much slower pace. Fall isn’t rushed, it’s calm. A new beginning.
I love new seasons. There’s a newness, a freshness with every changing season. There’s an excitement of what could be and could come. There’s also so much unknown that comes with each new season.
It doesn’t matter what season of life you’re in, change can be scary. If you’re moving from a place you’ve lived all your life (like I did) to a place that’s so unfamiliar, it’s scary. If you’re starting college, it’s scary. If you’re stepping away from a job to pursue a dream, it’s scary. The unknown of a new beginning is what can make it exciting, too.
I feel like I lack excitement in new seasons sometimes. I’m afraid of what could be or could not be. I’m afraid to let go of what was. I’m afraid to let new people in when they first meet me. I’m afraid to step away from a season because I’m nervous I’ll get rejected from what I want — what I think is best for me.
During church the other day, my pastor was talking about living a full and beautiful life. He reminded us that when we’re holding on to what was, we aren’t letting ourselves experience the fullness and newness of Christ and all that He offers in the seasons to come. Like Isaiah 43:18-19 says, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland,” He is making a way for you, carving a path for your new season. I’m so quick to hold on to what was without remembering that His new path for me could be just as good as what was (actually — it will probably be even better).
Living a full and beautiful life means letting go of the controlling grip we have on what happens in our lives.. It means opening our hands to Christ and His new mercies that endlessly flow toward us.
There’s a famous verse in Lamentations and it says:
“God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,
his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.
They’re created new every morning.
How great your faithfulness!
I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).
He’s all I’ve got left.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 (MSG)
I love how the Author of Lamentations says at the end, “I’m sticking with God…He’s all I’ve got left.” How many times do I think God doesn’t have time for me and my new beginnings?
I’m so quick to believe that Christ’s newness and mercies have run out for me. I know He can create beauty in the unknown. I know He can do it for everyone else in their new seasons of life, but I don’t believe He can do it for me. I get so consumed with the fear of new change and what could possibly fail, that I forget that Christ is with me in what’s new, just as much as He was in the former.
It’s not our own strength that gets us through new seasons of life. It’s not our own dreams and plans that get us through new seasons of life. It’s Christ, in our human weakness, meeting us where we are, guiding us through the unknown of a new season. It is Christ who is changing our hearts and molding us to become more like Him in each new season — rich in love, full of mercy.
Friend, His mercies do flow new each morning. He is not scared of your new season. He’s not intimidated when you admit you’re afraid that He doesn’t have any more mercy to extend to you. He plans and guides your new seasons with his treasures of grace, peace, mercy and love. And, as we’re reminded in Lamentations, His Heavenly treasures never run out.
When you’re in a new season, and all the new you’re facing is unknown, I hope you remember the same God that was with you in your previous season is with you ten fold in your new season. He sees your potential in your new beginning. And His mercies are always new, fresh with more hope. No matter the length of your season, let’s hold fast to the promise that He is making all things new, for His good.
Written by Ellie — for @poemaclothiers Fall Fashion Guide !