JOY Blog

Seasons of the Heart
March 26, 2015By Sheila Heiser

Changing of the Seasons by Luke Price on Flickr under CC BY-ND 2.0

Spring is a season of renewal for the earth. We see this in the bold manifestations of new life, whether that’s trees budding, birds building fresh nests, or children watching newborn animals frolic at the zoo. For my part, I love to watch the swooshing of the spring rain run down my street as it washes the winter debris away into the gutters.

Spring is by all means my favorite season. And this year, in particular, it shouts of new beginnings.

Winter had been long and drawn out for me. At the onset of winter, I received a diagnosis of breast cancer. It was unexpected; I had no signs or symptoms.

As the diagnosis tossed around in my head, I felt God anchor my tottering soul with the following verse:  “Do not earnestly remember the former things: neither consider the things of old, behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, Amplified Version)

I clung onto the Word God gave to me. I sensed His grace and felt Him making a way through my wilderness of battling cancer. I saw Him carrying me through to something greater than my understanding. He was ushering in a new work in my heart.

But that new work was a work-in-progress.

As I underwent treatment, I found that cancer was not the real enemy. The real adversaries were in my heart: anxiety, self-pity, pride and words of death. These foes lurked in my heart, whispered on my tongue, and kept me from experiencing the fullness of God’s life flowing in me.

To deal with these feelings, instead of trusting God to direct me to the right sources, I sought to understand the cancer by filling my mind with all kinds of research details and medical articles. I was striving to beat the cancer with girl power instead instead of experiencing the peace that comes from Jesus defeating cancer on the cross. He offered healing, however it would come, but I wasn’t receiving it.

As I laid in bed with my strength zapped, it wasn’t long until I was feeling sorry for myself. I found myself often saying, “I am so tired,” rather than, “Lord, teach me how to rest in You and give in to physical rest when I need it. Give me peace of mind instead of guilty feelings for leaving my housecleaning undone.” 

I am happy to say that reacting in these ways was part of the new work that God was doing in my heart. Eventually I learned to plan for rest and praise God for His Rest. I turned to prayer and sang and rejoiced in His goodness to me in catching the cancer at Stage 0.  

This work in my heart and tongue continues as a sort of spring cleaning. The winter debris of negative murmuring, complaining, and death-sopped thinking is being washed away with God’s Word. As one example, I write scripture and affirmations on sticky notes and put these on my mirror, words like “I am strong and healthy and fit for life in Jesus Christ.”  

March 20th, the first day of spring, was the day I completed radiation therapy, the last phase of cancer treatment for me. I am now concentrating on the renewal of my body, spirit and mind. I am focusing on ways to boost my immune system, like downing spinach and fruit smoothies, and making other life style changes, like going for walks at least five times a week.

I am also throwing off whatever weighs me down, like negative thinking about myself and the world around me. I try to be quick to catch myself when I speak words of death rather than life, making sure worry-words -- “I am so afraid that I will never again be strong” -- and self-pity words -- “No one is noticing the struggle I am going through” – are, in fact, former things.   

This season of my life has challenged everything I believe about God. But even though seasons change, God always remains the same yesterday, today and forever. He is present in any season in our lives, even fighting cancer. That truth has brought me peace. 

A few years ago I wrote a poem for a friend about the seasons of the heart. I hope it uplifts you in whatever season God has you on this day. 

Seasons of the Heart

Seasons of the Heart set us apart

In the winter wilderness to learn to listen

To His still small voice amidst the barren echoes of distress.

Seasons of the Heart set us apart

In the spring where the earth is restored and reborn

With new life and a renewed sense of hope.

Seasons of the Heart set us apart

In the summer heat where we learn to thirst

For that which quenches the inner soul

Seasons of the Heart set us apart

In the fall, rich in transitional colors

Bringing us out of the gray areas in our lives.

Seasons of the Heart set me apart

To love you through every season of life

Enriching my world view in light of knowing you.

Seasons of the Heart set me apart

To stand silently aware of your aching heart

In the cold of winter and to let you know spring is coming

Seasons of the Heart set me apart

To point out the loveliness of spring and new creation

To take time to watch the baby squirrels and bunnies

Seasons of the Heart set me apart

To bask in the sun of the moment instead of yesterday

Where the heat can sometimes melt away the joy

Seasons of the Heart set me apart

To watch where the wind will carry the leaves

In a dance of praise of being alive today.

 

What season of the heart do you find yourself? What have you learned about God and faith in this particular season? What are some ways you can support others in a difficult season of their heart?

Sheila Heiser is a writer who loves to spur women on to believe what God says about them, using examples from her life as a woman who married again in her 40’s, completed nursing school in her 40’s and had twin daughters in her 40’s.  She believes that age should never hold us back from doing what God is calling us to do. Read more posts by Sheila.
 

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