Seperation Season

Dear diary,

There are some seasons in our lives that feel like God has separated us from people, places, and things. Its important that we don't fret when we find ourselves in these situations, for they are nothing new under the sun.

It is completely normal to experience times like this. In fact, after Jesus was baptized, he was led alone into the wilderness to be tempted by the enemy. This separation from everyone, though difficult and trying, was all a part of God's divine plan and path for Jesus. You see, there is purpose in separation and here are a few key points that may help wrap our minds around separation seasons in our lives.

God May Separate You to Protect What He's Preparing

God may remove you from the environment that you are in because he may be protecting something that he is developing in you. Words carry power and people who don't understand your calling may unknowingly talk against it. God doesn't want what others are saying to destroy what he's building.

A perfect example of this would be John the Baptist's father Zachariah. When the angel of the Lord announced to Zachariah that his wife would give birth to John, the preparer of the way for Jesus, Zachariah questioned the angel. Consequently, the angel of the Lord shut the mouth of Zachariah until the word of the Lord came to pass.

It wasn't until 9 months later, when Zachariah confirmed with everyone that his newborn would be named John, that his speech returned. Those months of separation from speech were needed to ensure that there was no hindrance to what was going to be birthed.

God may be removing you from people who may be speaking against whatever word he has placed in you. Your purpose in God has to be carried out to full term. Rest in God's season of preparation, so that you will be ready to bring forth the seeds that he has placed in you.

"And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time."

Luke 1:20

Separation Seasons Create Lasting Impacts

While we are in our separation season, we may not fully understand what God is doing in our lives until after. But the results in the end are so beautiful and completely worth it.

Before the apostle Paul was Paul, he was Saul, a persecutor of God's church. God blinded Saul as a result. While Saul was blind, he fasted and prayed to God. After Saul was separated from his ability to see for 3 days, he was prayed for by Ananias and the scales were removed for his eyes. He then could see the true glory of the gospel and the truth of Jesus Christ. Those three days of separation turned him into the Paul we know and love; the Paul that preached the gospel to the world and wrote most of the new testament.

"Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength."

Acts 9:18-19

Separation Allows Us to Lean On God

Separation from people, places, and things allow us to trust God. So often, we can get so caught up in the material things in our lives that we can start to become dependent on them. These material things can be our jobs, our cars, our finances, etc...This separation makes us realize that our protection is not in what God separates us from; it is in Christ Jesus, our Lord and savior. When we begin to realize this, situations that go sour do not result in us swaying away from God, because the separation season has instilled that that is not our source.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;"

Proverbs 3:5

When done right, our season of separation will birth things that we never could have imagined. Don't fight your season of separation; embrace it.

Lord, thank you that you protect me from things I may not see. I pray that I continue to grow in my separation season. I thank you that even when I think I am all alone, you are with me. I give you all the glory and honor. Amen.

- xoxo God's Girl