Essentials for Life

Timeless Anchors to Steady Your Faith

By Shelly Esser

I pulled out the medical book to keep on top of my husband’s treatment schedule. There it was—again—the reminder that we are in a new season of life. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that the different seasons of life present fresh challenges as well as new opportunities.

But I’ve also discovered that God provides us with the essentials we need for each season. And when I begin to get disoriented by my circumstances, it helps me to reflect on those unchanging essentials that guide and provide comfort and hope in every season of life.

Some seasons seem to come uninvited and unwanted. Like the sudden loss of a loved one, a move, an empty nest, a rebellious teen, financial problems, or a medical diagnosis. Some seasons are just hard work—like raising a young family. Some seasons are welcomed and exciting—like a wedding, the birth of a child, a new job, or a move. And some seasons are full of uncertainty and confusion.