Reflections of Autumn

As fall is (finally) in full swing, we can now sense the excitement of all that autumn brings: beautiful changing leaves, football season, hay rides, bonfires, and all things pumpkin! Even the fresh, crisp air is rejuvenating, refreshing our souls after the exhausting heat of summer.

Similarly, the autumn of life is a strange mixture of nostalgia, blessings, and potential. It yields the harvest of seeds we’ve sown throughout life and braces us for colder days to come. When life’s autumn arrives, we look back and better understand the way God led us. It’s a good transition time.

Did you know “Autumn” only occurs once in the Bible? In Jude 1:12, false teachers are compared to “autumn trees without fruit,” implying that autumn should be a fruitful season, the most abundant of the year. This bears the question: how can we take advantage of the “autumn of life”?

First, we can acknowlege the unchanging nature of God. The seasons come and go, and there's a lot of unwelcome change in our world: moral and societal change, as weak as personal change - children leaving home, the passing of dear friends, and the slow, steady decline in our vitality and health. But amid all the changes, one thing never changes—our eternal God. “LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:1-2). The world may fade, the stars may fall, the seasons may change, and winter may come. But the God who has been our help in ages past is our hope for years to come. In Him, we have permanence, stability, joy unshakable, and life unending.

Secondly, we can rest in the divine foresight of God. We’ve all suffered setbacks along the way. BUT we still have hope, as God promised, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. . . . You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God” (Joel 2:25-26). Our omniscient Savior knows the end from the beginning, and He will bless whatever is yielded to Him. Focus on His foreknowledge, providence, and sovereignty.

Lastly, we can focus on the wonderful blessings of God: family, friends, strength, shelter, provision, opportunities to serve, more time to pray and study His Word, and eternal life still to come. It's during life’s autumn that we have a richer perspective and can count more blessings than ever before. During autumn, we all know that winter lies ahead, but we also know that, when winter comes, spring isn't far behind! ​

We hope you are able to savor all that autumn has to offer this year!!

---