@Ellehcim 2 June 2025

Every season has a reason, and a lesson. **It's a different kind of joy when you realize that you're living an answered prayer.** It's like an unexpected lemonade stall at the end of the long, bumpy road on a hot summer afternoon. You can also describe it as the softest, warmest blanket that came out of nowhere from a side of your cabinet you've barely checked before, appearing just in time to complete your cozy movie night on a rainy weather. It all made sense to me on a five o' clock in the afternoon. I was already walking towards the train station few minutes after five, while the sun is still there, as if waiting to see me before it sets. It all did sink in as I played a somber song on my phone, while looking out the bus window, observing as the sky went from yellow, to orange, to red, the purple, then blue, then black. I got lunch on time this day. No overtime. Got home early. More time to eat, and do some night skin care routine. More time to still browse on my phone, and quiet time with God. I never got to do this before. I used to go out before the sun rises, and went home without ever seeing it shine. I felt like I've lost some spark to what living truly was, as it's just spent on rushing through deadlines while fighting the desperate urge to go home and rest my exhausted mind and body. It did suck to act okay even I feel stuck in some place I tried so hard to belong to. So, on that quiet bus trip while watching the sunset did I only realize that this chaotic chapter has officially ended. I no longer had to sigh when looking at the glaring 08:00pm on my phone, then rolling my eyes at the laptop screen of never-ending tasks that will only end when the world ends. I used to pray for this. I now get why others said I'll only appreciate things when I've experienced the worst. That people appreciate happiness more, because they fought hard to get through the greatest grief. The idle moments at work that used to make me feel bored and stagnant are now making me happy, reminding me that rest, indeed, is okay. Everyone is entitled for a break, and hustle is not always the answer. Now, I get why God told me to wait even on the crucial times I really almost quit. He's preparing me for something even more than what I prayed for. And I believe, this is only the start. I am claiming that this is my harvesting season—I'm done with the suffering season, no more breakdowns, no more self-deprecating thoughts, no more health issues, no more anxiety. Therefore, whenever you believe that nothing is going well, trust that He is training your character to be ready for greater opportunities. He's scheduling your prayers one by one, batch by batch and will make it happen it its right season. Take it as the planting season—it's tiresome, it's uncomfortable, it might be boring, even. To some, might be unbearable, or burdensome. But the harvest season will be fruitful and worth it. When you come to that point of discovering why God made you wait, may this remind you as well that in your hardest times, He never left you. He is rooting for you, and helping you. He's your number one supporter and believer. ***If the God of universe believes in you, there's no reason you should not believe yourself, too.***

Thanks for reading!****To God be the glory.****