Seasons of Dormancy

Fall colors bring much pleasure and joy to the observer.  A vast array of pigments, that have always been present in the leaves now become visible with the waning of daylight.

Chlorophyll is the dominant pigment in most of the deciduous trees that we see throughout the summer with some exceptions.  As the days grow shorter, the trees produce less and less chlorophyll because there is not enough energy for these little factories to stimulate the tree to make sugar.  Now the trees will become dormant and rest relying on their sugar stores to get them through the winter months.

As the concentration of chlorophyll decreases in the leaves the other pigments that are present in the leaves become visible and a wide array of colors, once hidden, take front and center.

 Now the things that were once hidden have become manifest and all the glory and splendor of fall rallies the viewer to songs of praise for the God of Creation.   

There are beautiful colorful things occurring in the life of the believer who is continually growing and stretching toward the Son of Heaven.  Sometimes the death of some things in our lives 'leaves' the Christian in despair but God's manifest glory shines through to those who are watching.  

2 Corinthians 3:18

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, 

are being transformed into the same image 

from one degree of glory to another.  

For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  

The internal things have been exposed for all to see.  The pigments that were made by the tree gleaning energy from the rays of the sun have now become visible but this visibility comes during a season where the sun is further away.

Although God is always near to us sometimes he feels far away.  Sometimes it feels like we go through winter seasons where we do not sense the warmth of His countenance shining on us.  

During this seemingly cold, dark seasons of life we have an opportunity to see things manifest in our lives that we didn't know that God developed during a season where we seemed to be flourishing and growing and enjoying the warmth of His presence.    

Seasons of growth sustain seasons of dormancy in the Christian's life.  The life that is produced by close proximity to the Son, is evidenced when the seasons of lack come.  

How do we respond to seasons of perceived lack?  With despair?  Maybe the Lord is allowing us to go through a desolate season so that He can see His manifest glory explode from our lives like the colors of fall.  

2 Corinthians 3:7-11 attests to this kingdom principle of death bringing forth glory.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, 

came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 

will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?  

For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, 

the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 

Indeed, in this case, 
what once had glory has come to have 

no glory at all, 
because of the glory that surpasses it.  

For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.  

Our lives are a letter of recommendation written on other's hearts, by the inner work of the Spirit, to be known and read by all!  

Recall the blind man who Jesus healed in John 9?  Jesus' disciples asked him 

"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, 

that he was born blind?"  

Jesus answered, 

"It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, 

but that the works of God might be displayed in him.  

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; 

night is coming, when no one can work.  

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Our lack may be the very thing that God will use to display His glory in and through our lives!  

We are to be lights in a darkening world and as we are stimulated by His continual presence we can shine forth even during the dark seasons of our life knowing that He is with us and He it is that is fueling our existence by the power of His Spirit for all to see!  

Father, let our lives display your radiant glory as we sway in the bitter breeze of the impending winter season, knowing that you use our lives to display your glory even when we feel as if you have left us out in the cold.   We tear down that lie of the enemy that whispers in our ear that You do not see and You do not hear when indeed You allow dormant seasons in our lives to show forth Your glory and power to others.   Thank you!