Have you ever felt like there were just some seasons you would rather not go through? The heartache, pain and grief associated with some seasons of our lives feel unbearable. In those times we may wonder, “God, what good could come of this, why would You allow this pain?”. Friends, I am here to encourage you today that there is indeed a good purpose and plan in every “good and bad” season of your life. If we give thanks in all circumstances, allow God to teach us what He wants to and don’t give up, we will see the beautiful fruit and harvest!
It has been over a year since I’ve written to you on this platform, mainly because 2024 was a very challenging, pruning season for me. I didn’t have the capacity to show up for this lifestyle blog and brand in the way I wanted. I was navigating completing my post graduate diploma in Family Medicine, experiencing heartbreak and grieving the loss of close family members and patients. There were also moments of taking care of sick parents, isolation, transitioning jobs and the usual challenges of owning a business. I also walked through healing from emotional trauma and burnout.
Gratitude for the Pruning Season
However, as I reflect on 2024, I see how God’s hand and presence was with me in every moment. He connected me with spiritual mentors and a counselor who spoke life into my situation and helped me traverse the challenging moments. I was blessed with a core of wonderful friends who prayed with me and encouraged me virtually. He surrounded me with a Spirit filled church family who challenged me and believed in my potential and purpose even when I didn’t. I was fortunate to have a personal trainer who walked alongside me to keep me active even during my low moments. God also provided for me financially in supernatural ways.
He provided new godly connections with beautiful people I didn’t expect and open doors of purpose through my first solo trip to Uganda. Finally, I thank God for His grace that gave me the strength to put in the healing work (and continue to).
God has been faithful to bring me into a new season of blooming and I will celebrate every small and big win in my life. He showed me that the pain He allowed produced a re-framing of my negative mindsets and behavioural patterns. I have become more confident in His unchanging love for me and my God given identity and purpose. It produced character and depth. It produced consistency and discipline in intentionally taking care of my mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health as I constantly pour out to others in this profession and calling. Lastly, it also produced an attitude of gratitude for life.
What season are you in?
As we enter this new year, what season are you navigating? Maybe it is a challenging and painful pruning season. I may not understand how difficult it is, but I do know that the God I serve, loves you and wants to walk with you through this. Are you leaning into your faith in this moment? Have you reached out to your support system? Are you spending any time on self-care? Have you reflected on or asked God what lessons you can learn in this season?
Maybe you are in a season of harvest and blooming. Are you stewarding your time, money and relationships well? Are you taking care of your health in the midst of the busyness? Have you been giving thanks in every moment recognizing that it’s a gift from God? Are you letting God lead and guide you?
Perhaps you are in a building and planting season. Have you been faithful in sowing, despite how things look? Are you trusting God’s process here and now? Don’t despise your small beginnings my friend. Check out our last blog post about how to navigate transition seasons in a healthy way here, Navigating Transition Seasons.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 (NLT) says,
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NLT)
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
I want to encourage you today not to wish away or take for granted the season that you are in. There are beautiful lessons to be learnt and character to be built in you. There is purpose being birthed and destiny connections being forged. Every season has a divine purpose!
“Every season has divine purpose!”
I pray that God’s grace carries you through this season and that you would experience joy in the ups and downs of life this year. May we all have a fruitful, healthy and victorious 2025!
Yours truly, Star
(Dr. Esther Trotman, M.B.B.S, PDGFM)
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”. (Galatians 6 vs 9)
P.S. We encourage you to stay connected with us this year as we build a wellness community of persons working toward a whole and healthy lifestyle. Follow our IG page https://www.instagram.com/star.wellnesslifestyle/ to keep up to date or subscribe to our mailing list via the sign up form on our home page.
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