4 Lessons I Learned During Summer 2024

This summer was so special! I wept, rejoiced, laughed, said yes to some new things, and let go of some old things. I thank God for the highs, lows, and everything in between because I can honestly say it's made me better.

As I reflect on this summer season, here are four things I've been learning:

New levels require greater capacity.

If you’ve been a Christian for longer than a month, you’ve probably said one of these prayers at one point or another:

“Lord, use me.”

“Lord, send me.”

“Lord, have your way.”

“Lord, your will, not mine.”

“Lord, I want more of you.”

I think I’ve prayed each of these at least once this year, and let me tell you, God hears us when we pray because He has been stretching me all year. So, before you say any of these potentially life-altering prayers, know that when you ask God to use you, you also invite Him to mold you, and the refiner’s fire is not for the weak. In order to experience “the more” that God has for you, you also need to be more mature, disciplined, patient, discerning, and wise.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

There’s power in stillness.

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:13-14

A seasoned sister at my church pointed me to this scripture earlier this summer, and I’ve been holding it close to my heart ever since. As someone who spent many years taking pride in how hardworking I am, stillness feels a bit unnatural to me. However, I’ve come to see the value in quieting my soul. In moments when I feel overwhelmed, I’ve been practicing surrender. God wants to fight for you, defend you, and carry the burden, so why not let Him?

Discernment saves us time, energy, and heartache.

For everything, there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I love the third chapter of Ecclesiastes because it highlights that each season has a specific assignment and purpose. I'm guilty of wanting to do it all, but that approach to life just isn’t sustainable. Discernment helps us to align our actions with God’s plans in every season. If you’re planting seeds during a season when the Holy Spirit is prompting you to uproot weeds, you’ll be very disappointed when Spring comes and there’s no harvest.

Maybe this season is for working on your career goals or maybe it’s for throwing yourself at a passion project. Perhaps the Lord is calling you to invest in your community or give more of yourself to the local church. Discernment is the wisdom to rightly set our priorities, so we don’t burn ourselves out trying to do it all at once.

God’s hand cannot be forced.

There's a phrase commonly used in the Haitian Church that goes, “Se Bondye ki Bondye” which translates to God is God. He is the one true living God. He is Lord over the past, present, and future. Nothing under the sun happens without God’s permission.

This means that regardless of how badly you want something to come to pass or how much you want a season to end, nothing moves without God’s say-so. The idea that I’m not in control used to scare me. But lately, I'm finding peace knowing that God’s will can't be thwarted. When we bring our requests to the Lord, it's less about the outcome and more about the intimacy we build with our Heavenly Father when we invite Him into our circumstances.

These are just a few of the lessons this season has taught me. What have you been learning this season? Let me know in the comments!

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