Autumn brings the brisk winds of change. For some reason, changes in my life seem to be felt more keenly during this season more than any other. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to deal with a new season of life that I find myself in. I wanted to pass along some quotes that I came across over at Pastor Tullian Tchividjian's blog that have been tremendously encouraging.
From Knowing God by J.I. Packer
In regards to changes in life... what possible purposes God might have in mind?
Perhaps he means to strengthen us in patience, good humor, compassion, humility, or meekness, by giving us some extra practice in exercising these graces under
especially difficult conditions.
Perhaps he has new lessons in self-denial and self-distrust to teach us.
Perhaps he wishes to break us of complacency, or unreality, or undetected forms of pride and conceit.
Perhaps his purpose is simply to draw us closer to himself in conscious communion with him; for it is often the case, as all the saints know, that fellowship with the Father and the Son is most vivid and sweet, and Christian joy is greatest, when the cross is heaviest. . . .
Or perhaps God is preparing us for forms of service of which at present we have no inkling.
We may be frankly bewildered at things that happen to us, but God knows exactly what he is doing, and what he is after, in his handling of our affairs. Always, and in everything, he is wise: we shall see that hereafter, even where we never saw it here. . . . Meanwhile, we ought not to hesitate to trust his wisdom, even when he leaves us in the dark.
But how should we respond to baffling and trying situations when we cannot now see God’s purpose in them?
First, by taking them as from God, and asking ourselves what reactions to them, and in them, the gospel of God requires of us; Second, by seeking God’s face specifically about them.
If we do these two things, we shall never find ourselves wholly in the dark as to God’s purpose in our troubles.
Isn’t that envigorating? With this kind of Sovereign GOD planning our lives, we can rest assured that He is “able to do far more abundantly than we can ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20) ...and even when we can’t see His hand, we can still trust His heart. 
