My one word 2022 was “Wait”. It was before me often at the start of the year and then became quieter, sporadic. Interestingly, it has begun to reappear more often in this season.
Autumn – the season when everything is dying, becoming quieter, my one word is getting louder and speaking more often.
The words found in Romans 8 return to me:
“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope.” (verses 19-20, NASB)
In this season of autumn, when all the trees are dying and dropping their leaves, we see the unbelievable beauty of creation in the colors of autumn. The reds, oranges, and golds brilliantly glisten in the sunlight.
We are awestruck every year when this season comes around, recognizing the magnificence of creation; and more so, how creation is pointing us to remember our Creator.
Creation is waiting, in hope, for it knows the day is coming when all will be made right. One day all will be as it was meant to be from the beginning.
The trees will wait once again for new growth and new life to spring forth from its branches. Knowing this cycle of seasons brings us hope too, as we wait.
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (verses 24-25, NASB)
And so the changing of seasons, the beauty of autumn,
fills us with hope.
And reminds us to wait with perseverance.
In her post “Expectations and a Reliable God“, Maryleigh Bucher asks this question: “How often do we settle into the shadows of our faith experiencing only a fraction of the blessing when our Savior has provided the whole?” This post is beautiful in both word and photos!
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Photo by Autumn Mott Rodeheaver on Unsplash
Today I may be joining …
The trees have been drawing me in this year more than normal. I sit and watch at them RELEASE their leaves (using my word too!) one at a time, knowing that in the spring, they’ll fill back up again with new things. It fits perfectly with your WAIT. 🙂 I appreciate your reflections, Joanne.
I love how autumn is speaking to you as well, as our words do fit perfectly together. As we wait and release in God’s perfect time, we make way for new growth and fruit. How precious is the wisdom of God in giving us seasons which cause us to reflect on Him! Thank you for sharing, Lisa!
Wait is such a deep WOTY, Joanne. As we draw near to Him, and intentionally wait upon Him, He is so faithful to draw near to us and reveal Himself.
“Wait” is never an easy word, Joanne, yet it holds much treasure in its peacefulness if we embrace all it has to offer. I am learning “wait” is a true gift from God, because it is deeply rooted in HOPE as romans 8 reminds us!
It’s a glorious season, indeed. A Sean-song of color as we enter the quiet season of deep growth no one but God sees. Waiting isn’t easy, but I love how God gives us a burst of beauty to usher in the times we wait.
To wait with perseverance–that seems to imply waiting with His strength, made possible by His grace. What good cause we have for perseverance and joy in waiting on our good God.
Beautiful post, Joanne. Autumn’s display of colors and a change in season always leaves me mesmerized. I love how you note that creation waits in hope for all to be made right in the world. And so do we.
Love this reminder of what we are waiting for – when all will be as it should be. I can hardly imagine a world like that, but one day I will be a citizen of it!
Love how you connected those verses to what we see. This fall has been spectacular here.
Joanne, this is so beautiful. I was feeling the hope of autumn and love seeing the dancing falling leaves. But some of the trees are beginning to thin. Your devotion today brings me the hope of autumn, of the wait, of the new life, of Spring, of Jesus. My word(s) this year were wait and explore. So it has been a year of go and stop! But an exciting year as God is requiring of me to listen to Him closely.
This truly is a spectacular season. I never looked at it as a waiting season. But as I reflected, I can see the very essence between waiting in nature as I do for our life seasons. So beautifully spoken sweet friend.
Thank you for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.
Lovely post Joanne. Wait is a lovely word full of expectation for what’s being waited for ðŸ˜Ĺ
Blessings, Jennifer
Autumn is my favorite season of the year! I love the changing colors of the leaves in the trees and how the mornings are finally chilly! You are right, though — it is also a season of waiting. Waiting for winter to come so all will sleep until the new birth of spring. What is interesting, is that even though the season of waiting, of dormancy, seems as if nothing is going on, that is far from the truth! Deep inside the tree, that future new life is stirring. It is the same with us. As we wait, we can be assured that God is never still. He is always at work deep inside of us! Then, as we allow Him to work in our lives, new birth will occur! What a joy it is to be made new by Him!
It can be so hard to wait, or at least to wait patiently and in hope. I love this reminder that creation is also waiting and that there is beauty in the rhythm of waiting, hope, and renewal.
Your words of hope are a balm to me today. Thank you.
This is so beautiful, Joanne: “Creation is waiting, in hope, for it knows the day is coming when all will be made right. One day all will be as it was meant to be from the beginning.” What a day that will be!
In my part of the world, September and October are when the leaves change, and November the snow is here! We had our first snow fall November 1st this year. As I get older, I’m less fond of the ice and snow (and thinking living where I can still go ice-skating in an arena but then head outside into a summer-like day no matter the season would be ideal….). Yet, no matter what our season is like, God is working out His purpose in our lives. Thanks for your spreading of hope.