I don’t know about you but I am LOVING summer! I tolerate the New England winters just for THIS. Summers are my favorite for many reasons such as Sunday evening family beach days (ANYONE is welcome to join us!), eating grilled dinners out on our deck, Saturday New Hampshire Lake trips to swim and hang with extended family, or just staying up late till the sun goes down. But what I love most about summers is watching my kids indulge in the joys of summer, much like I did (and still do!) as a kid.
Summer has always been the best time of year, because responsibilities lighten (like no school or vacation time) and we are free to make the most of our days soaking up Vitamin D and investing in relationships. There’s nothing quite like that spontaneous beach trip or having ice cream for dinner just because.
And when you think about it, this is how a life in Christ is MEANT to feel like. Where the days are full of joy and contentment. Where you can throw away your plans in favor of His. When you can make the most of your time doing the things that REALLY matter. I’m not saying the days will be perfect. You might encounter that unpredicted storm that drives you out of the water for a while, but it will pass. Life in Christ is a lot like summer. There are great days of pure sunshine and warmth, but there are also some days where the storm gets in the way. I once heard a pastor say this about life:
“In all seasons of life you are either entering into a storm, are in the middle of a storm, or have just come out of a storm.”
Now that may sound all doom and gloom, but really, the bottom line is that life is full of storms, but they pass. They pass - that’s the thing you’ve got to remember. Following Jesus allows you to walk in and out of storms and not only “weather the passing” but find joy in the journey. Knowing that you have to get out of the water because a storm is headed your way may be a bummer, BUT knowing you’ll get to dive back in headfirst if you walk with Jesus through it, brings a whole lot of joy and peace.
So, enjoy summer. Cling to Christ in the storms and pretty soon, you’ll be back in the water.
