Off-Season

Prelude:

July 1, 2020.

Her heart was gleaming. Her smile was refined. She sat up in her bed and shed tears of joy, while squeezing life into her pillow! The excitement that she felt was almost unbearable! She was 3 days shy of going public with her testimony on how she’d survived childhood trauma. She had produced a powerful podcast, turned her survival story into a blog, and created a cookbook that held her very own therapeutic recipes. This felt like her winning season, and she was truly thriving!

July 1, 2021

Her body was limp and sprawled out across her bed. Her face had been submerged facedown into her pillow. Traces of what appeared to be hours of long overdue tears, could be seen running down the side of her face. Too many times she’d tried to pull herself together. On many occasions she’d attempted to snap out of it, but this storm she was battling appeared to be gaining strength and pulling her away from her foundation.

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Hey Sis, You got a minute? Can I be transparent? Being vulnerable is one of my strong points, but this has been difficult for me to write. In a matter of three hundred and sixty-five days, it felt like my winning season was coming to an end. I felt the grey bitterness of winter stripping me of my sweet and savory summer. I went from celebrating my healing journey and being recognized for my strength, to not even having the strength to want to live. I felt as though I had been left out to wither away. Goals that I set were not being met. I fought covid while still having to be wife, mommy, and teacher. The strong connections that once held my family together for years were starting to deteriorate. New wounds from unhealed trauma were being exposed, and I felt forsaken, dismembered, and defeated. It wasn’t until I heard God speak to me while nursing my very own garden. “This may feel like your off-season, and I know that you are tired, but please know that you can find rest in me. Remember that I work for the good of those that love me. You are who I called, and this is my purpose and plan for you. Be strong in me and in my great power.”

Gathering myself, I had to find truth and stability in God’s promises to me. His words were so intimate and warm. Now when I tend to my garden, I’m forever reminded that there is shelter, refuge, and peace during every season of growth. When I can only see soil in some areas, I am still reminded that the rain will come at the right time, and the beauty from withstanding that rain is what produces an abundant harvest.

Take a moment to plant yourself in the soil of God’s Garden. Because you are planted and because of God’s promises, you now have the strength to withstand what may feel like your off-season. There will be moments of torrential downpours and strong winds that may feel unbearable, but remember your storm is strength in the making and its only for a season. You were created and built on purpose to survive the storms!

Let’s pray together:

BIG GOD, thank you for being the most consistent player in season and off season. Thank you for never leaving us or abandoning us when life’s waves are roaring. We know that finding truth in your promises is what gives us the strength to stay afloat. Help us to continue to live on purpose, so that we can one day share our testimony with others. In God’s name we pray. Amen!

Promises to remember:

1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.”

Romans 8:28: “We know that in everything god works for the good of those who love him. They are the people God called, because that was his plan.”

Deuteronomy 28:12: “The Lord will open up his storehouse. The skies will send rain on your land at the right time, and he will bless everything you do. You will lend to other nations, and you will not need to borrow from them.”

Guest Writer - Courtney C.