Fall has arrived! I know some people do not particularly like the fall as they focus on the impending cold & icy winter season, but the Fall season has always been my very favorite!

With the beautiful harvest moon, Gods ‘s spectacular display of color as the leaves begin to change, and all that the season has to offer like a crisp chill in the air, sweaters, and pumpkin everything, I could stay in this season forever.

It’s a season of visible change, at least in southwestern Pennsylvania. Reminding me of all the various seasons of change God has seen me through, some miraculous and some deeply disappointing. But as I remain in Christ and focus on Him and what He would have me to do in the here and now, I find that a divine peace, satisfaction & gratefulness is always mine.

Just like you, your children experience a lot of change, sometimes it’s wonderful and other times it’s tough. They recently started a new school year about a month ago. They are experiencing the challenges of this with embracing new teachers, concepts, ideas & friends. Perhaps they recently had a birthday undergoing even more change. There could have been a loss of some sort for them like a friend moving or pushing away or even a bigger loss of a divorce or death in the family. One thing is for sure and that is we are ever growing and ever changing and our response to change is imperative to our spiritual growth.

When I look at Joseph in the Bible and his life’s journey, he emulates some exemplary responses to some big challenges he faced throughout his life! His early life was being the 11th son of Rachel & Jacob. As his father’s favorite son, he gifted him a coat of many colors which prompted loads of jealousy from his own brothers. Upon sharing a dream he had with all his brothers bowing to him as an authority figure, their jealousy exploded ending in betrayal from his brothers who sold him into slavery. From slavery he found favor and became a servant in Potiphar’s house only to be accused of seducing his wife, resulting in a prison sentence!

If that weren’t enough to push anyone over the edge, Joseph kept calm and remained focused on God and what God would have him to do in every season. With the divine gift of interpreting dreams, he goes on to interpret the dreams of two fellow inmates, which prove to be spot on! Many years later the one of them remembers Joseph when the Pharaoh has troubling dreams, and he is brought up to interpret the dreams. Pharaoh is so impressed he appoints him second to only himself in Egypt, in charge of storing grain during the years of plenty to protect the people during the years of famine.

It is amazing that no matter how the enemy went after Joseph he remained faithful, never harboring any grudges, always working as if unto the Lord whether in great conditions or prison conditions. He knew whose he was, and the great plans God had for him no matter what that season looked at that moment. He stood on God’s promises to him which even led to a grand reconciliation with his brothers and father after many years of hurt and betrayal.

Joseph's life is a significant story of forgiveness, reconciliation, and divine favor in all seasons as he journeyed from being a favored son to a slave and then to a position of power in Egypt in the book of Genesis. And just like Joseph, we need to embrace and help our children to embrace each season with a divine purpose that will ultimately fulfill the plans God has for us, even if it was meant for our harm. God will use it to benefit us just like he did for Joseph!

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” In every season, God's plans for us are filled with hope and purpose.