It’s not that God is mad at us for complaining in every season —in the summer, “it’s too hot”, and in the winter “it’s too cold” — no it’s purposeful that we catch the fact that our feelings change, and what we appreciate changes based on the season we are in and the season we are coming out of. It’s only because of the cold that we appreciate the summer. But after the heat has been around for a while we forget the discomfort of the cold and now can’t wait until it’s cooler again. And the cycle continues on and on. Therefore each season can only be fully experienced and appreciated when related to the other seasons.

This is why we must have trials and various seasons of testing in our lives. If it weren’t for those times, how would we come to appreciate and continually be aware and grateful of our blessings? It’s only when it gets hot that we start missing the cold (or vice versa).

So the next time you catch yourself feeling guilty for complaining that it’s too cold, knowing that in the summer time you’re going to be complaining that it’s too hot, don’t feel bad! God knows how fickle we are and how desperately we want things to always be “just right”. He knows we like to be comfortable and unbothered.

But what if God was calling you out of your comfort zone? What if in the process of transforming you into the image of Christ, he reveals to you that you need to be hot or cold…That in fact, he hates lukewarm (spiritually speaking)! Lukewarm is great for self comfort of the flesh, but detrimental to the spiritual growth of the body of Christ.

When it’s cold, we get moving! Whether it’s just rubbing our hands together or going to get that warm coffee or favorite soup. Even our body’s natural reaction, without us having to control it, is to shiver and shake when we get too cold in order to warm up. When it’s hot on the other hand, we may be struggling to move at all and would just rather stay in one spot. We may get naked or even submerse in some cold water…whatever it takes to cool off!

So let these physical examples encourage your spirit to do the same. In “cold seasons” get up and get moving toward everything that God has called you to. If you don’t have a love relationship with Jesus, get moving on that! If you are not walking in your purpose, get moving in that direction. Get going on the next step of faith that God has called you to. And in the “hot seasons”, be still! Know that God alone has all the answers and sit before him long enough for him to give them to you! Trust in his plan and his goodness to actually sit and listen to what his Spirit is saying. Refresh yourself in the presence of the Lord! Get naked and vulnerable before him because he knows it all anyway! He is the only one that can satisfy your every and deepest needs. He’s the only one who can heal your ugliest hidden wounds. Hot/cold therapy really works! And just like water, if you want to change your form, you have to be either really hot or really cold. When luke warm, we just stay the same.

God says come as you are but he doesn’t want you to stay as you are! Let the changing seasons of life help form you more and more to the image of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Embrace the uncomfortableness each new season brings, for when you are uncomfortable you are growing. Never stop growing!

Author – Tianga Jackson

4/5/19