Distance

“The seasons on Earth are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis – they are NOT caused by the differences in the distance from the sun throughout the year.” source

So we’ve learned in the above astronomy lesson:

But because our mind always goes to the simplest explanation, kids generally make this their first guess when learning about seasons.  Why does it get cold?  Why does it get hot? They guess that it’s because the earth is closer to or further from our heat source, the sun.  But that assumption is wrong.

Can the astute student guess where this science lesson is going?

As we live in Christ, we all go through seasons.

And because our minds always go to the simplest explanation, we generally assume that the season we’re in is directly related to how close we are to the Son.  Why do we hurt?  Why do we experience pain? Trials and pain must be caused when we are far from the Son, and joy and goodness are always found when we are close to the Son –  But that assumption is wrong.

It’s a forfeit Christianity that tells us  “All will be well, and life will be good, if I just love Jesus enough.  And if all is not well, and all is not good, I must work harder to love him more.”

Reading God’s word, I am being reassured that I can be loving Him, following Him, pleasing Him, and still heartache will come.  Pain happens, and the winter seasons of life come; it doesn’t always mean I’m far from the Son. (And as a side note, when we see hurting people, we must not assume they are far from the Son either.)

When life is hard, don’t heap guilt on yourself on top of the pain you’re feeling —  “My faith must not be strong enough…..I must need to work harder to please Him…..” He is there.  He loves you.  I hear His voice especially loudly in the winter seasons, because in times of suffering He lovingly reveals my areas of weakness, pride, and wrong attitudes that need to be pruned away.   His Holy Spirit speaks and works at all times, in all seasons.  In the winter seasons, rest in Him and find peace in His word. It affirms that He is there with you in the pain.

2.  What college did you go to? Northeastern State University in beautiful Tahlequah, OK. NSU is 5 minutes from the Illinois River, where we spent lots of time camping and canoeing.   Jonathan and I met lifelong friends there.  I got my Masters degree in Communication Disorders at The University of Texas at Dallas.  No rivers to float there, or camp fires surrounded by guitar playing friends, (there was mostly just lots of hard work) so thoughts of UTD don’t bring the same warm fuzzies. 

Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK