Seasonal Shifts
- Lauren
- Aug 22
- 3 min read
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” - Psalm 139:1-2, 4, RSV-2CE
The seasons are beginning to change. While where I live, it is still quite hot, there are signs all around that we are about to leave a season behind us. Back to school supplies are in stores (and have been since July!), kids are beginning school, pumpkin everything is emerging, and the heat of the summer will come to an end soon. Fall has always been my favorite season. However, this seasonal change is bittersweet this year.
This time, one year ago, I was preparing to say goodbye to my twin brother, Kyle. One year ago, I packed up a suitcase and left my house to be by my brother’s side. I left my home in the heat of the summer, and in those weeks that my brother lay dying, the seasons changed. By the time he went home to be with the Lord, the mornings had turned crisp and fall was approaching.
The beginning of Psalm 139 says “O Lord, you have searched me and known me!” and it goes on to say, “even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether” (verses 1 and 4). The Lord knows each and every one of us completely. He knows what I will write before the thoughts come to my mind. He knows what I will say, what I will think, and He has my future in His heart (Isaiah 49:16). It is comforting to know that we have a Creator who knows us completely. He is the only one who understands us totally.
I find the beginning of Psalm 139 comforting in times of grief. God knows what we are going through at any given time, and He is waiting for us to speak to Him about it. Even though He already knows what we are thinking, He delights in hearing from us. Just as any other relationship needs to be maintained by communication, so too we must maintain our relationship with God by speaking to Him regularly.
Kyle and I’s birthday is at the seasonal change between summer and fall. How fitting it is that Kyle returned home to Jesus in this same seasonal shift. How reassuring it is to know that our Lord searches and knows us completely. He knows what we need and how to speak to us in a way that will reach us. From now on, the shift from summer to fall will always remind me both of the goodness of God, and of Kyle, who now walks freely with Him.
In Christ,
Lauren
All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted.
If you are experiencing grief, I highly recommend https://www.griefshare.org/
(The Persistent Christian is not sponsored by nor affiliated with GriefShare)
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