I generally lament the passing of summer. It’s such a sadness to me that winter will arrive soon after with snow and ice. The nights are longer, and the days are shorter, plus the mornings are colder. I have to wear closed shoes and long pants and find all of my scarves and mitts.
It’s so much work to get ready for a walk or a hike, and where I live, the weather also becomes gloomy.
But I’m determined to be thankful, to really cultivate an attitude of thankfulness, not merely force gratitude out of myself on command. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
Here are five reasons I’m thankful for fall, and I pray these thoughts sink deep into my heart.
1. God Is on the Throne
This unchanging reality fills me with hope and joy, with courage and excitement: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8).
This is forever, it’s true, and the reality of God’s sovereignty has the power to impact our lives. My God cannot be moved from his throne. His will stands; his justice is perfect, and he loves us. From that position, the Lord sees, and he intervenes.
Furthermore, when Christ ascended into heaven, he went to the right hand of the Father, from which he continues to help his people. He intercedes for us. Together, they rule, good and gracious and perfect and reliable.
If I wake up and the world is foggy in both the literal and the metaphorical sense, I know where to find light. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). The certainty of this light fills me with good shivers.
2. Fellowship Fills Me Up
Changing weather does not change who my friends are. My girlfriends are the same whether the leaves are budding or falling.
When the nights are long, I can call up a few people and get together for dinner or dessert. I’m looking at my calendar for the current month, and it is full of enjoyable activities: dinner, music, walks, and so on.
So much of the friendship I treasure is Christian fellowship. “Iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17), so my Christian friends and I encourage one another in the faith as troubles arise and even when we are doing well.
We “stir one another up to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Paul wrote to his friends, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10).
My friends encourage, sharpen, show affection, and honor each other and me, which brings joy and comfort to my heart.
Autumn can alter so much about the landscape, but not these simple joys.
3. Change Is Exciting
Autumn brings drastic and visually obvious change. Change is scary, but it’s also good for us, and frankly, change is inevitable. My body is posing assorted challenges that are not earth-shattering, but they require acceptance, adjustment, and learning.
One of my closest friends is now in her late 80s, and her body is failing, so our plans will shift this winter to accommodate new restrictions, while those of us who love her will need to be ready to adjust as she suddenly decides “I can’t do that today, let’s try this instead.”
Our church is going through a considerable transition right now, and while this is difficult, it’s also thrilling to watch them prayerfully consider what’s in front of them.
Times of change bring opportunities to trust and obey the Lord. God’s voice has become clearer to me over time through the voice of his Word, through prayer, and through others, even his “no” and his “wait” and his “yes.”
There have even been times when God seemed to point one way or the other, and I’ve audaciously laid out a fleece at least once in order to know whether I should stay here or go there.
In every situation, whatever the Lord wills, I get to experience real and trustworthy guidance and learn that change, while scary, can lead to the joy of knowing that he was kind enough to guide me.
This is deeply satisfying, whatever the result, because there is always something coming around the bend, for better or worse, whether related to people, work, or the world at large.
4. Beauty Is Everywhere
I can focus on the death of plants and trees or consider the beauty of this season, from its intense and vibrant colors to the starkness of bare trunks. Even a dead branch, bleached smooth and shiny, calls to mind the wonder of the Creator’s skill.
Right now, I’m thinking of those specialists in medicine who pull back tissue to reveal bones that need healing or even medical examiners who reveal the cause of death or the age and race of an individual who has died based on the bones and other features which are more obvious in death than in life.
Bones are fascinating, and dead branches are like the bones of trees. What we miss all year round when a tree is covered in leaves, buds, or fruit is now revealed for the majesty of its structure.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:28 that “God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.”
There is a structure to any church, including the Body of Christ. That structure is merely a shadow of the ultimate structure, the foundation upon which we rest our faith: The Triune God.
5. Time of Rest
Some jobs are busiest in summer, like mine in the deli, where tourists come and eat everything our kitchen, deli, and cafe staff produce as quickly as they produce it.
Every drink has to be made in the blender. We’re ready for a break as soon as the kids go back to school. Teachers — your break is over, but for us, this is the calm time before Christmas. I really needed that calm.
My body is tired. My staff is tired. Thank you, God, for rest. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” This is a bold thing for the Psalmist to say because resting makes us vulnerable.
When he lay down, his enemies could hurt him. I’m not sure if that is true for you today — if taking a rest is an act of faith. It’s possible that taking a rest requires some humility, though. Aren’t some of us guilty of thinking the world will come crashing down if we are not working all the time?
Enjoying the Autumn Season
I can be like that, believing (or hoping) that my friends, my kids, and my staff can’t live without me. Yet, that is not true. I’m humbled to realize that life goes on when I step out for a while. I’m also relieved to know that others expect me to rest and that I don’t have to feel guilty about it.
This Autumn, I plan on resting just a little bit, but I’m still resting in Christ. That has not changed with the seasons. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters” (Psalm 23:1-2). I think I’m ready for a bit of lying down now, Lord.
For further reading:
4 Service Project Ideas to Do This Fall
5 Cost-Effective Fall Activities
How to Deal with Grief This Autumn Season
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/SrdjanPav
