Seasons
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
Seasons come more than once however, if you live till you are 80 years you will go through 320 seasons all together, that is a lot of seasons. Spiritually you will go through seasons just like the yearly ones, as Ecclesiastes 3:4 says a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, a time to dance.
Picture this – you are going through a situation right now whether it be marriage problems, relationships with your children, friendships have ceased, financial difficulties, loss of your job, your kids are being homeschooled because of COVID and someone says to you “It’s only for a season” You have heard this before haven’t you, I surely have multiple times and does it frustrate you as it frustrates me sometimes? Well, as much as it does frustrate you and me, I am here to tell you that “It’s just for a season”. Situations in life have an end date, nothing lasts forever.
We need to approach our seasons of life from a mindset of understanding. Seasons will teach us lessons on faith, patience, trust, strength, growth, endurance, and plenty more.
Our spiritual season represents the nature of seasons, Summer, Autumn/Fall (for my US friends), Winter and Spring. While we know how long these seasons last for; we don’t know the length of the spiritual season that God wants to use to equip us will last.
Autumn/Fall is when the leaves change colour and fall off, start dying. The transition into winter, it all seems to end. Spiritually this time represents harvest, where we as Christians bear our fruit. God gives us more correction and shaping to prepare us for a long winter season. This season is where we can grow our trust in God.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Winter is when everything looks dead, but we know it’s not. There are no leaves on the trees. It’s cold and miserable. You feel like hibernating in this season.
Spiritually this time represents the reflection of our life and to examine our hearts. A time of allowing Jesus to make changes, building up and maturing us. This can also be a time for resting, recharging, and hearing from God on the next direction we must take.
1) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2) He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3) He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Spring is when everything grows again, leaves grow, flowers bloom, grass is greener, and most animals have babies.
Spiritually, this is the time of joy and glory after resting and recharging. A time to grow, to develop, to get stronger. God will shape and mould us. These lessons that we go through help us for the future.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Summer is when everything is in place, it’s bright, everything is a pleasant colour, sun is out and hot.
Spiritually this time represents sowing and reaping what you planted in spring. It’s a time to keep watering, pulling out weeds, to continue the hard work while cooling down on the longer days.
11) Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I know that hearing “It’s only for a season” is frustrating, just know Jesus is with you every step of the way, you don’t have to go through each season alone. As Isaiah 41:10 says I am with you, I will strengthen you and I will uphold you. In Philippians 4:8 it says be anxious for nothing, go to Him in prayer, let your requests be know to Him. Jesus want to help we just need to let him.
Author: Janie Gration