There is something magical to be said about the change of seasons. The change of leaves colors different hues of red, orange, yellow and purple. The silence of snow falling making a magical wonderland, being chilled to the bone but then getting to be warmed up by the fire with friends and family surrounding you. To the blooming of life, everything becoming awakened as if for the first time–flowers, animals, us humans–all coming out of hibernation. Then the heat of summer with the rain in the late afternoons, cooling down and dried up by the evening so that we can all go and play and try and catch the last glimpses and warmth of the suns rays. There are joys, sorrows, triumphs, times to celebrate, to be silent, to be still, to move, to step out in bravery and times to yield.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
This verse has been continually coming up for me these past five months on the field, this reminder of seasons and how vital they are in our lives and yet how we, how I, so often don’t either appreciate them or try to rush into the next because I don’t like the present. However, seasons are such a beautiful thing in our lives, and its an amazing form of worship! Because if I think of the trees, of the plants of the field and how they yield to the season it is an example of how we are to do the same.
Now I know what you may be thinking Alysa, flowers and trees aren’t like us humans. You are correct, plants don’t have the same intellect as us, nor do they have the free will like us to choose. We have a bit more of a challenge, we think, we consider options, we decide, we act, we doubt. Simple being is difficult to achieve for us, and yielding to the seasons just as strenuous. But, what a marvelous way we get to worship God, saying yes and yielding.
What is it to yield? We most often understand it in the context of driving, aka “give way.” I’m going to take it out of that context for a minute and instead use it for our lives. To yield to someone, in this instance God, and here is what the Webster dictionary defines yield:
to give up possession of on claim or demand: such as
a: to give up (one’s breath, life, or spirit) and so die
b: to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another: hand over possession of
c: to surrender or submit (oneself) to another
d: to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit
e: to relinquish one’s possession of (something, such as a position of advantage or point of superiority
Yikes conviction much?…
So, with this definition in mind to yield to God then is to surrender, to relinquish control/possession, and to give myself to Him. God, knows what He is doing and gives us seasons and the thing that He is asking us are we willing to submit to them? To yield and surrender and let go of claim or the demand that I think I may have or deserve?
It’s funny because this is the season I find myself in, its a rich one, of deep cultivation, honest tilling, and yep you guessed it yielding. For while I may think that its time for something different, Papa is saying not yet, wait and see what will happen. Trust me and see what will be born out of the waiting. This is hard, because I want to go, I want to do other things that I am passionate about, except He knows the full grandness of yielding. Let’s look at another definition of yield:
a : to bear or bring forth as a natural product especially as a result of cultivation
b : to produce or furnish as return
c : to produce as return from an expenditure or investment
Really then, this yielding is producing its bearing forth fruit, good soil, and an investment far greater than I may ever begin to understand! In this yielding it is then in anticipation of God’s provision. For, what He is bringing me through there is a reason and purpose, just as the same for you. The beauty of this is then taking notice of God’s provision by watching in anticipation, not obsession. Where anticipation prays during the watch, obsession complains and try’s to control during the watch. Because contrary to popular belief the waiting, the watching, the yielding, is not passive, its actually a very active thing. And when we aren’t willing to yield we try to work outside of the waiting–forcing answers, things to happen, growth, happiness, pleasure.
Again, as I look to the trees and take notice of how they do not complain, but yield, I can only imagine then how they are happy, content, where they are because they know that their roots are growing deeper, their trunks taller, their branches longer, their leaves and fruits greener and richer. Because the yielding is producing greater strength within them than I or you can remotely begin to understand.
What if we did the same? Said, yes, to God in whatever season He is asking us to yield to, what do you think would happen?
What season do you find yourself in? Take some time to reflect on Ecclesiastes 3 and ask Papa where He is asking you to yield, then prayerfully watch in anticipation of what He will do!
P.S. If you are looking for a devotional check out this one by Declare Glory called Seasons
