this too shall pass

the only way it is possible to get through a season sometimes is the knowledge that it will not last forever. isn't that so encouraging? no matter how challenging the situation may be, it is wonderfully encouraging to know that it will end. i guess it would be unfair, however, to ignore the other side: good times must end as well as the hard times. and the Lord is the One who appoints each season's beginning and end.

college was always nice, because struggles would often begin and end with semesters. oh, the stress of exams! balancing lunch dates, bible studies, working out and, oh yeah, schoolwork - it built that wonderful gift called good time management. but the stresses would often end right around may and december and all those cares and worries would dissipate right into wonderful times lounging at home with family.

since college i've noticed that seasons last a little longer than they used to. their start and end dates are a bit more nebulous and entirely dependent upon the Lord. and much of those seasons, i've also noticed, i spend stressing about what exactly the Lord is doing. but the other morning i was reading in ecclesiastes, and i came upon the very well-known passage of Scripture (eccl. 3:1-8):

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

i'm so glad the Lord holds all times and seasons in His hands. but right now, i'm so thankful that spring is the next season. :) happy spring, everyone!

...waiting on God...

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits
And in His word I do hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning -
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning."
- Psalm 130, 6

"Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,

Like a weaned child with his mother;

Like a weaned child is my soul within me."

- Psalm 131,2

the past few weeks have been a true test in waiting. i feel like i am learning about it in ways i did not know before. i feel like a beginner. did i ever know what patience was like before? did i feel like i'd finally arrived and didn't need to be tested? ha!

the voice test date is wednesday, not monday. if the doctors do not find anything, mrs kim said she is fairly sure that i should return home. i may be returning to america as soon as 2-3 weeks.

i don't know how i feel about that. i'm not sure i'm mentally prepared to be back in america. ha!

but i have been waiting here for over a month for something to happen. for some answer or direction to become apparent. and the longer that i am here in korea - not teaching, not recovering my voice - the more sure i am that this season in korea is probably coming to a close.

but i am still waiting. and trying not to go crazy with it all. trying to rest in the Lord. maybe soon i can stop trying and just rest.

i'm tired. maybe i'll be like that child that squirms and thrashes in her exhaustion (yes, wearing her mother out completely in the process) until finally that exhaustion completely overtakes her and she goes limp.

thanks for the love and support, friends. i'm hanging in there.