I’m in a season of growth.

In other words; there’s pressure in my life and, because of that, I am learning fast.

Maybe you are with me, in the midst of what feels like a ‘non-stop’, ‘can’t-quite-keep-up’, ‘learning-lots,’ phase of life?

I am not talking about doing too much – there are times when we create our own pressure because of poor boundaries, or a selfish desire to keep up. But, in this instance, I am talking about being in a season of life that feels intense, for reasons that you have zero control over.

Maybe you are a new mum, or maybe you are unexpectedly caring for a loved one. There’s a whole heap of circumstances which can usher us into a time of feeling constantly stretched.

Here’s three things that I believe God is showing me about embracing this stretchy-season, rather than resenting it.

1. It Doesn’t Last Forever… so Don’t Miss it!

I don’t know about you, but I like to know where I am going in life. What’s next on the horizon?

I’ve always been a dreamer – When I started writing, I dreamed about a book. When I got married, I thought about having children. When I gave birth to my first child, I wondered about my second!

The benefits of long term dreaming are clear – when things are hard, you can remember that it is just a season. It will have an end date. Thinking about the end date can help us to feel motivated to get through.

Yet, there’s a woman in the bible that didn’t simply wish her pain and pressure away. Her name was Mary. Jesus’ mother.

Mary amazes me. When an angel appears to her telling her that the Holy Spirit will come on her and she will conceive the son of God, she reacts with such faith:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Luke 1: 38, NIV.

Later in her pregnancy, Mary had to travel with Joseph around 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem (perhaps on a little donkey!)

When she arrived at Bethlehem, it was busy. There was a census. In fact: “There was no guest room available for them” (Luke: 2-7, NIV.) So Mary had to make do wrapping her baby with cloths and putting him into a manger, made for animals. What a birth story!

You probably know the rest – shepherds and wise men came to visit baby Jesus and worship Him. Meanwhile King Herod starts to plot the death of Mary’s sweet firstborn.

In all of this, Mary’s response is:

 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:19, NIV.

She treasures and ponders.

She holds the miracle moments dear, among chaos all around her.

She lets her heart accept the wonder of God, rather than filling it with fear or stress.

I think that is what I am supposed to do in these crazy days.

This week, I can choose to dwell on the frustration I feel regarding my lack of sleep. I can choose to get angry about the fact that my son won’t nap! I can focus on where I feel like I am failing.

I can wish the pain of this season away. Or… I can treasure those miracle moments in my heart… before I forget. I can let my heart accept the wonders God gives on a daily basis. The Psalmist says to God:

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90: 14, NIV.

Daily, you and I can choose to be satisfied with the wonder of God’s love.

In fact, we can choose to sing for joy and be glad, every single day.

When was the last time you thanked God out-loud?

When was the last time you allowed yourself to feel full in His presence?

Please know, you can be satisfied by God’s love, even in a busy season.

2. Be Confident in Who You Are

There’s another bible story including Jesus’ mother, Mary.

Jesus, Mary and some disciples are at a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The wedding hosts run out of wine and Mary makes Jesus aware of this.

This is another moment of pressure. The wedding hosts do not want to be put to shame for not having enough wine.

In this moment, Mary looks to Jesus:

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

John 1: 3, NIV.

Mary knew Jesus. She knew Jesus could take shame away and work miracles. Ultimately, Mary knew that her son was the son of God. She treated Him as such.

Mary was so confident in who her child was. I find that so challenging.

Are we confident in who we are?

Are we confident in who our loved ones are?

Are we confident in who Jesus is?

To be honest, in this busy season with two littles, I can often put metaphorical blinkers on and run around doing the next practical thing. Getting my baby dressed, getting my toddlers teeth brushed, putting on the baby sling, wrapping my toddler in a coat.

When we are in a season of pressure we can easily get consumed by tasks and forget that our identity lies in much more than what we do. It lies in the fact that we belong to God, we are His kids.

We can also very easily get frustrated with people, forgetting their worth. My kids are God-given gifts, just as your colleagues are. Just as your in-laws are, just as your husband is.

The people that are close to us in our season of growth can sometimes bear the brunt of our stress, but we must remember they are made by God and there for us to love.

Mostly we need to be like Mary and stay confident in who Jesus is. He will never leave you. He is for you. He is making all things work together for your good. Even in challenge and stress.

3. Do What He Tells You

Following the story about the wedding at Cana in Galilee, the bible then tells us:

His mother [Mary] said to the servants, “Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. 

John 2: 5 – 9, NIV, my brackets.

If the servants hadn’t filled the jars with water there would be no miracle. They could have easily disobeyed Him, or given up. They could have told Him there was no point in putting water in the wine jars… but, instead, they did what He asked, even when it didn’t make sense.

Sometimes we forget that obedience proceeds the miracle, or the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.

Our intense seasons do not lack miracle moments, but it is up to us to choose them. Alternatively, we can choose to be filled with resentment for the season we are in.

I also love how it says the servants “knew” where the wine came from.

When we are obedient, our souls know or realise who Jesus is. That He is with us. He is alive. He is talking to us, meeting us, leading us. There’s no feeling like it!

Are you being obedient to what He’s asking you to do today?

Or have you allowed the pressure to stop you from expecting miracles?

In a Season of Growth, Savour

It might seem silly to think that we should savour a time of pressure, but I am reminded of a bible verse that I once had pinned to my wall:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

James 1: 2-4, NIV.

God can use a time of pressure to produce perseverance and maturity in you, so that you are not lacking anything. This is a time to savour, a time to count the blessings and love those around you.

I am challenged this week to be out-loud thankful, to love my people well and to do whatever Jesus tells me to, even when I don’t actually want to! That is how I am moving forward with this season of crazy! If you are joining me, I’m praying for God to open your eyes so that you can begin to see beauty in the chaos.