If you’ve lived in Logan County for any length of time, you know one thing for certain: the weather never stays the same for long.

The bitter cold of January eventually gives way to spring blooms. The heat of July slowly fades into crisp autumn evenings. Every season has its purpose, and every season eventually changes.

Life works much the same way.

One of the biggest surprises of adulthood is realizing that life doesn’t stay consistent. No one really tells you that. As children, we often imagine that once we grow up, things will settle into place and remain relatively stable. Instead, we discover that life comes in seasons.

Some seasons feel like summer. The sun is shining, relationships are healthy, work is going well, and we wake up excited about the day ahead. We feel energized, hopeful and confident. During these times, it can be easy to believe life will always feel this way.

But then winter arrives.

Winter seasons in life can feel dark and cold. A job loss, financial stress, health challenges, grief, loneliness or uncertainty can leave us feeling stuck in conditions we never expected. Just as Ohio winters can seem endless in February, difficult seasons can convince us that things will never improve.