Back To School—Are You Ready? https://beckielindsey16.com/2016/08/03/back-to-school-are-you-ready-2/

Ring, ring, ring!

It’s that time of year again. Can you hear the school bell ringing?
A new school year means new beginnings, new friends, new school clothes, new supplies, new teachers, new classes…
New.

New can be exciting, but it can also be scary and intimidating.

Even though as adults we have outgrown going back to school in a literal sense (unless you’re working on a degree—then props to you!), we face new situations that can feel like going back to school. Maybe it’s a new boss or job, or baby, or marriage.

Facing new seasons in life IS life. God designed it that way. Embracing and trusting this concept makes change easier.

“For everything, there is a new season, a time for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Seasons change, fashions change (thank God for that!), and we must learn to roll with it or be pummeled. I know this from experience.
You see, my life was pretty typical for over fifteen years. I was a homeschool mom with a part-time job I did from home. I also served in women’s and music ministry at church. Life stayed centered around my church, family, and kids with their many activities in which my mom was a big help to me.

Then it happened.

Change.

It started with the death of my mom. Outside of God and my husband, my mother was my best friend. Losing her was not just a little life change. It was a landslide that lead to an avalanche of major changes to the typical topography of my life. In fact, my life today looks nothing like it did before mom went to her new home in heaven.
My oldest son joined the Air Force. My middle son graduated college, moved out and got married. My husband’s mother passed away. My dear friend’s husband committed suicide. My brother-in-law, wife, and baby lived with us for several months while looking for a new home. I lost my part-time job. My daughter graduated high school.
I think you get the point. And these are only a few of the major changes my life has taken.
While being incredibly difficult, these changes have landed me exactly where I need to be— at the feet of Jesus. This is where I learned:

We may not have control over our circumstances, but we do have control over our response.

Another thing I’ve learned:

We are continually going back to school and learning.

Only this time, it’s the school of real life. The ‘school of hard knocks’, if you will. There are tests in the school of life. Tests worth more than a letter grade or passing to a new grade level. These tests are designed by God to help us develop in maturity.
“Life on earth is a Test. This life metaphor is seen in stories throughout the Bible. God continually tests people’s character, faith, obedience, love integrity, and loyalty. Words like trial, temptations, refining, and testing occur more than 200 times in the Bible.
We don’t know all the tests God will give you, but we can predict some of them based on the Bible. You will be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies.
Character is both developed and revealed by test, and all of life is a test.”
Rick Warren’s, The Purpose Driven Life

Whether or not you realized it before reading this, you and I are on that yellow school bus and headed back to school.

ARE YOU READY?

I have an idea. Let’s get ready together.
Until we meet again, dear student of the school of hard knocks, please find hope in the knowledge that throughout our many changes and trials, our God is immovable. When we anchor ourselves to Him, nothing is impossible.

“This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:19
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ “ Matthew 19:26
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“For I, the LORD, do not change…” Malachi 3:6

Takeaway And Application: God uses change, life’s tests and trials to grow us.
Are you going through a change or perhaps a period of testing right now? Please share in the comments below. In this way, we can pray for and encourage each other.
Prayer: Father God, I realize that you are good and you have good plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11). Please teach me how to anchor myself to You and Your Word so that I can grow through this test.
This post is linked to- http://www.leahadams.org/the-loft-link-up-back-to-school/

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