Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: BRISK (10/12/23)
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TITLE: Embracing a New Season | Previous Challenge Entry
By Naoma Bird
10/19/23 -
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I turned seventy-five in February of this year and realized I had not yet really accepted this new season of life. My mind didn’t recognize it and so I persistently tried to stay in the previous season. I felt being busy meant being productive and accepted.
For years our home was the hub of activity. Always busy with family, full-time jobs, serving in several areas at church, and serving on some short-term medical mission teams. In those years I could move quickly from task to task and my pace was brisk and purposeful as I attempted to help fix situations and even people. After retiring I continued working part-time for a year at our church and doing mission work at a children’s home with my husband once a year.
Of course, I told myself I was doing it all for the Lord, or so I thought, but I was doing it in part because I thought my value as a person was in how much I could accomplish, and how busy I was. This often led to my running ahead of God instead of waiting on Him and letting Him lead.
But now, in all that busyness, I realize I was afraid that if I didn’t do enough, I wouldn’t be enough. I didn’t want to move on to this next season. I didn’t want to slow down because I felt my busyness made me more important to God. I needed to be busy to be worthy of God’s blessings and people's respect.
Eventually, God began to open my eyes to see that my body was in the new season whether my mind agreed or not. It became obvious that I was having difficulty keeping up with my busy schedule and housework. My brisk walk had changed to an easy stroll. In his wisdom, God was teaching me the truth of his word: “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV). I needed to move on and embrace this new season!
It’s been about eight months since God began this work in me and I am slowly making needed changes in my life and schedule. With chronic busyness, like with any addiction, change doesn’t come easy but Jesus said, in answer to the disciple's question, “Who then can be saved?”, Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:25b-26 NIV)
Through prayer and Bible study God has reminded me he loves me unconditionally, not because of how much I can do or how busy I am but because He created me to be his.
I am finding new avenues of ministry in areas of gifting I never took the time to develop because I was too busy! One of those ministries is writing. All those experiences during those busy years are failures and victories that can be shared in my writing. At first, I had a hard time just sitting at the keyboard and writing because I was sitting, not doing. I am now finding that I am doing something! I am in God’s Word and seeking God in prayer more. I am striving to find and write the messages he gives me from his word. He is blessing me in and through the process of writing, challenging me, and encouraging me, even as I write, and pray to encourage and challenge others.
I may never publish a book or even an article but if even one of my stories or articles encourages someone or blesses someone it will be for the glory of God. But even if no one notices, God still loves me as I remain obedient to his call for me to write.
I am striving to make my focus on faithfulness, not busyness. Paul’s focus in his winter season is on faithfulness. He doesn’t write about how many sermons he preached or all he accomplished. He writes: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV) May this be my testimony at the close of this season?
I'm learning it isn't busyness but a steady faithfulness to God’s word and his will that win the race!
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