I can’t help but feel as if the drought this autumn was God trying to communicate a message—when we resist the storm, we resist change; when we resist change, we resist God’s greatest good for our lives. The drought kept us in a perpetual state between summer and autumn; the drought kept us from change. The lack of rain kept the temperature from cooling off, and most of the leaves began to fall and die before ever changing color. This left me broken hearted; I love autumn and look forward to it all year long. During this season, I’ve come into a newfound gratitude for change and the trials that precede. The hard truth is, without trials and tribulations, we rarely see change. It’s the rain that moves us from summer to autumn, the storms that act as a catalyst for growth, the trials that inspire transformation, and the transformation that makes things new.

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Change has never been my thing,

but I’ve seen it as a duty.

Change is more than just a chore;

change displays God’s beauty.

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The seasons change, as does nature;

the weather changes too.

How boring would it be for us

if there was nothing new?

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Green leaves to golden brown,

amber, and vibrant red;

warm weather to crisp, cool breezes

and early sunsets instead.

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You must learn to love change,

God told me recently.

Change is what keeps you growing;

change can set you free.

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I asked the Lord—help me to see

the gift of things made new.

Help me to love not just rainbows

but the rainstorms too.

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That’s when God stopped the rain

for days and days on end.

He withheld from me the wonderful feeling

of autumn’s crisp, cool wind.

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The warm air of the summer

never shifted into fall.

The trees’ green leaves

didn’t change at all.

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It’s so hot and muggy, God,

I complained in agony.

It doesn’t feel like my favorite season;

this isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

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Then one day in late October

an angel got her wings.

My dear friend moved from Earth to Heaven

the place where she now sings.

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I sat inside my car that night

in the midst of all my pain.

That’s the night God opened the Heavens,

and it finally began to rain.

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I’ve never appreciated an autumn rain

quite like that before.

Tears poured out in sorrow and gratitude,

and then it rained some more.

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Change can be the biggest blessing

when we trust God the way we should.

Some changes are sweet, others painful,

but He works them all out for good.