蜜芽传媒

Good morning.

September signals a change of season as we move from summer into autumn. The days grow cooler and the evenings darker. Yet this year, nature seemed to change faster than expected. In July, I was surprised to see ripened blackberries already hanging on the bushes, ready for picking. By August, leaves had already begun to turn and fall.

Experts at the University of Worcester have described this as a 鈥渇alse autumn.鈥� After the unusually hot and dry summer, plants and trees began showing signs of stress, shedding their leaves not as a mark of seasonal change, but as a desperate response for survival. The Met Office even described it as nature鈥檚 鈥渂id to survive.鈥�

Life can sometimes feel like that. We may believe we鈥檙e in a season of warmth and ease, only to suddenly find ourselves facing unexpected hardship. Loss, disappointment, or pain can catch us by surprise, leaving us reeling, much like trees dropping their leaves out of season.

Jesus prepared His followers for this reality. In John 16:33, He says: 鈥淚n this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.鈥� Trouble will come, but it does not have the final word. Christ鈥檚 victory assures us that even when the seasons of life shift without warning, we are not left without hope. His presence steadies us, His peace comforts us, and His power enables us to keep going. So, when difficulties strip away what feels safe or familiar, let鈥檚 cling to the one who has already overcome.

Lord, thank you that when hardships catch us by surprise, your presence is constant. Help us to take heart, to trust in your victory, and to walk with courage through every season. Amen.