If it's one thing I have learnt over my 44 years of existence is that life consists of seasons. A season is a temporary, finite amount of time in which God uses you for a particular purpose, or allows you to undergo an experience in order to accomplish a specific objective in your life. In each season of your life, He equips you with the resources you need to accomplish His purposes in that season. Since seasons are finite, they come to an end. Having this perspective gives us the grace we need to persevere through the trying seasons, and to treasure the pleasant ones.
When I was a child, I remember always wanting a best friend. Even though I had 3 siblings, we fought a lot, so I decided I was going to have imaginary friends. I remember making a list with the names of my imaginary friends, and getting upset with my siblings when they sat on one of my imaginary friends when we got into the car. In primary school I had a best friend, but she migrated after a few years. Since then, there were others who could have had that title, but they did not remain close to me indefinitely. I remember getting upset every time the ones I considered my nearest and dearest no longer had that role in my life. I did not realize at the time that, for every one who became less active, God provided another one or ones to take their place.
It was only when I got to be a young adult that I understood that the reason those close to me drifted away was because their season in my life had ended, and it was time for me to move on. I am still very good friends with those from past seasons, and the love I have for them is as real now as it was then, but the reality is that after they have served God's purpose, there is no need for us to be as close as we were before, and I have learnt to be OK with that. Because of this understanding, I now more fully appreciate the ones who are in my life in this current season, choosing to value the time we have together instead of being apprehensive about the time when they will no longer be around.
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I no longer desire to have a 'best friend'. Placing that much pressure on one person to be everything you need them to be in your life can lead to major disappointments when they fall short. I have learnt that Jesus is the only one who can fully satisfy every desire and need I have. He has also placed me in a loving community who provided all the support I need in this life He has called me to, in every season. Some of them are older than me, some are younger, and some are in between but it doesn't matter - they are all being used as iron to sharpen iron.
I know exactly who to call on when I need someone to:
* Release my frustrations to
* Get advice from
* Make me laugh
* Go on an adventure with
* Visit the beach
* Get up early to exercise
* Pray for me
* Encourage me to do something I am hesitating to do, especially when it is a God-thing
* Push me out of my comfort zone
* Refresh my soul
* Give me a hug
* Listen to my stories and really get me
* Cook for me
* Go shopping for me
* Redecorate my house
* Hold me accountable to my commitment to read through entire Bible
* Do ministry with
* Understand my life story so I don't have to give context because they know it already
* Develop a graphic for me
* Provide decor for an event I am hosting
* Advise me about technology
* Remind me of how loved I am
* Keep me company when I can't sleep
* Give a dramatic response to my stories
* Hold me accountable
* Respond to my WhatsApp messages
When I look back over my life, I truly thank God for every person who has served a role through every season of my life, and for supplying me with me all that I needed to endure each season. I have no doubt that as I move forward into whatever is the next season that He is preparing me for, He has already equipped me with everything that I need exceedingly and abundantly above all I could ask or even imagine.
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