August is a transitional month between summer and autumn. It hopefully means the final days of very hot weather and the beginning of at least a hint of cooler nights and crisp mornings. Nature transitions slowly from season to season and so should we.
August offers a transition between the carefree days of summer and the more structured routines of fall – the start of a new school year and end of summer. This month encourages us to take a moment to look back and reflect on our accomplishments and progress. We can reflect on summer and prepare for fall. We need to remember to slow down to embrace this transition. By doing so we gain a sense of fulfillment while also setting new goals for ourselves, paving the way for future growth and success.
August, the eighth month of the year, symbolizes a season of new beginnings. In the Bible, the number 8 represents a fresh start. A new beginning does not necessarily mean that your past did not happen- it means your past will no longer define you. No matter how rough the past has been, God is able to give his people a new page, a new chapter, and renewal.
Isaiah 43:18-19 states “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” This is God’s promise to take you beyond what was, into what can be. It is the intervention of God that resets your life, renews your strength, and redirects your path. God is actively working in a person’s life or in the world, bringing about positive and transformative change, often unexpected or different from what has happened before. God constantly is bringing about new beginnings and opportunities. We often don’t like starting over or beginning again. It can be scary and uncomfortable. God can help us transform our perspective so we can stop feeling like we’re starting over and can instead view this new season as a fresh start, a place where anything is possible and where He will be with us.
— Elder Lisa Hazelrigg