| We are in the hurricane season. Constantly we are being told to be vigilant, stay alert and prepare for the changes in the weather pattern. Do you know that, just like the weather, your life too experiences different seasons and you also need to know how to identify and prepare for them as well? |
| Our lives go through periods of changes over our life’s span. Some people call it the ups and downs of life. There are all kinds! The Bible heightens our awareness of that in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 when it states,“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace”. Therefore, it is important for us to stop and study the changes and seasons in our lives. We seem to know when we are in the dry season or the rainy season, or whether it is spring, summer, autumn or winter, but what about our own lives? Can we identify the different seasons? How can we tell what the times and seasons are in our lives? You see, like farmers, it is important for us to know which season our life is in, how to identify it, what to do while we are in it, and how to prepare for another. There are seasons of rain as well as sunshine, and each season serves an important purpose. Knowing that is extremely beneficial. We need to understand that we cannot pray away life’s seasons. Each moment in time, each phase of life, must be treated in a manner appropriate to the event. Ecclesiastes also points out that God does everything at just the right time. God’s timing is perfect. He has everything under control. He has a plan for each of our lives. He knows when to shift the seasons in our lives for what He needs to accomplish. Just pause for a while and take a glance back over your life. Can you recall the many incidents and circumstances? Can you identify the many changes that happened as a result of each one? As you look back on your life’s accomplishments you will notice that they are seasonal. That’s why it’s a mistake to make a permanent decision based on a temporary circumstance or changing emotion. You see, God has a purpose for everything that happens in our lives, be they good or bad. Those things happened for a reason. What we need to bear in mind is that those things that happened in the past have happened, and we cannot change them. And things that will happen in the future will happen, and we cannot change them either. He also has a purpose for not allowing us to be fruitful all the time. That is for us to trust Him and depend on Him. Hence, it is important that we learn to recognize our life’s seasons as transitions that take many forms. A change of season can be a loss of a job, death of a loved one, moving to a different location, changing schools or careers, moving to a new home, a new relationship or a job promotion. It can also manifest itself in a sense of restlessness or a feeling you have outgrown something that once was exciting and challenging. When those things occur, they are alerting you that there is a season of change in your life. The change in season is not to be feared. Each one is filled with new and rich experiences that will help us learn and grow. Seasons are growth opportunities that keep you progressing towards the fulfillment of God’s plan for your life. You see, real growth requires seasons of struggle as well as seasons of success. Times of struggles are humbling experiences, we need them. Your life can be compared to a tree: in winter it silently refurbishes its strength, preparing for the next season of fruitfulness. As you look back on your life’s accomplishments you will notice that they are seasonal. It is always wise to take a rest and be patient and trust God. What we need to do, is to embrace the season we are in at the moment and accept the new one when it comes. Not doing that, can cause much stress and strain. Many people create problems for themselves by trying to stem the flow of time or attempting to hang on to a past season instead of adapting to the current one. As our seasons change, we need to change with them and accept them for what they are. Our goal should be to enjoy each season for what it presents, both the good and the bad. Each season has its own unique beauty and makes a significant contribution to life. God in his divine providence, designed the four seasons in that, while each one is distinct, they all work together to bring life and growth. Spring is a period of freshness and new life. Summer sees growth and productivity. Autumn is a time for harvesting the rewards of past labours. Winter is the season of dormancy and closure. Just as God planned seasons in nature, He planned seasons in life as well. Life has its springtime, when we begin new things and look excitedly toward the future. Summer comes and we work diligently in the heat of the day at all that God has assigned to us. With autumn comes the fruition of things begun at an earlier time in our lives. Winter brings an end to a particular period in our lives. Sometimes winter brings hardship, but we remain hopeful for another spring is just around the corner! In God’s perfect design for our lives, He has planned for times of fruitfulness and activity. He will also build in times of quiet and rest. There will be times when He asks us to remain faithful doing the same work day after day. But there will also be periods of excitement and new beginnings. We will enjoy seasons of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness. We will also overcome the cold winters of heartache and grief, for without winter there would be no spring. Just as it is with the seasons of nature, these seasons in our lives work together to bring about God’s perfect will for each one of us. Whatever season you are in, it is wise to remember that hard times don’t erase God’s promises, harsh treatments don’t escape God’s notice, heavy tests don’t eclipse God’s concern, and God is always aware of the things we are experiencing in our lives. Remember, if you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your autumn. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. By keen observation of life’s patterns and seasons we can prepare ourselves for life and its many phases. |
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