I stood in the hallway, listening to the whirl of the washing machine, the clicking of the fan on high speed, and the kids’ voices in the living room, and willed myself not to cry again. Our teammates and close friends for the past seven years were about to move back to America. Out of five American families on our team, we were the only one remaining in Egypt. A new season was beginning, and I wasn’t sure I liked it. 

The rainy season in Guatemala meant that it will rain every day. That’s the season. It’s predictable. The sandstorm season in Egypt meant that a sandstorm would happen at some point, but you didn’t know when for sure. It was not predictable.  

In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, Solomon speaks poetically about seasons of life. He shows us that there is a time for everything, the good things and the not-so-great things. We can nod our heads sagely as we read the lines, because we have experienced our share of life seasons. 

But what about the unexpected? The unpredictable? The life that is becoming the new normal that you didn’t know you signed up for? 

In cross-cultural ministry, I’ve faced seasons I didn’t expect, both difficult and sweet. I’ve had seasons where things seemed to fall into place and other seasons when I was clinging to the confidence that God holds us in the storms. I had seasons where the rains were predictable (when my husband traveled something would go wrong at home and I had to depend on my community for help) and seasons when I wasn’t sure what was coming (when our teammates left and we didn’t know if we could continue on our own).  

The seasons all passed. Some took longer than others (like summer in Egypt that just won’t end). And here’s something else Solomon tells us: “God has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecc. 3:11).  

There are some seasons that will be difficult to call beautiful. But if God can work all things for the good of those who love Him and are called to His purposes (Rom 8:28), then He can do this, too. 

Good seasons pass. Hard seasons pass. God remains the same.