I just got back from a trip to the Ozarks where the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and the trees are starting to close down their productivity of the spring and summer. They do this through the removal of a chemical called chlorophyll, the stuff that keeps the photosynthesis engine running. As the season changes and I watch the magnificence of the trees start to glow, I’m struck by the parallel.
As the air cools and the leaves transform into their glorious reds, oranges, and yellows, it's hard not to marvel at the beauty of fall. But did you know that those vibrant colors were hidden all along? It’s not the trees creating something new, but rather, as they lose their chlorophyll, their green fades and their natural colors come to life.
During spring and summer, trees are filled with chlorophyll, a pigment that helps them capture sunlight and turn it into energy. This green pigment is vital for their growth, but as fall approaches, the days grow shorter and the sunlight weakens. In response, trees stop producing chlorophyll, allowing the hidden pigments—carotenoids (yellows and oranges) and anthocyanins (reds and purples)—to shine through. These pigments have always been there, but the green of the chlorophyll was too strong to see them.
In the same way, God sometimes asks us to pause, to shed the things that overwhelm and clutter our days. As we release those things, our true colors—our gifts, our passions, and the beauty He placed within us—begin to shine.
Eph. 4:17-24
The key is, to relax into it.
Just as the trees don’t resist the shift in seasons, we too are invited to surrender to God’s leading when He calls us to change. Ezekiel 11:17-20 Whether it’s a career, a relationship, or simply a season of busyness, He sometimes asks us to let go, to slow down, and to trust Him. It can feel like loss at first, but as we release the weight we’ve been carrying, we realize that we are not losing ourselves—rather, we are uncovering the truest parts of who He created us to be.
Like the trees, our vibrancy and beauty are always there. They may have been hidden under layers of obligations or distractions, but when God steps in and changes the season, we find ourselves in a time of revelation and reflection. Our hidden colors come to life.
If you’re in a season where God is asking you to let go, remember that it’s not about what’s being taken away. It’s about what’s being revealed. Col. 3:9-10 Just as the trees are most beautiful when their colors shine, we too are at our best when we allow God to strip away the distractions and reveal our true selves.
Let this season be one where you find peace in God’s process. Trust that as you release what overwhelms you, your true colors will shine their brightest—just as He intended.
At Sonshine Paperie, we believe in the power of reflection, slowing down, and connecting with God through writing. As you navigate the changing seasons of life, consider journaling as a way to capture your thoughts, prayers, and the beautiful colors God is revealing within you. Just like the trees in fall, there’s more beauty within you than you might realize, waiting to be uncovered in His perfect timing.
