changing seasons

As we go through this life we go through seasons. We have the physical seasons of time and we have seasons of life. We also have spiritual seasons.  I have experienced the passing of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.  I have passed through the season of childhood, teenager, and young adult. I realize my life is in the season of middle age.  It is time passing quickly.  Spiritually. I have had seasons of joy, seasons of peace, seasons of worry and doubt, and even seasons of loneliness and fear.  We go through seasons.  The Word of God made it very clear that we will have seasons.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV

As I look out at signs of changing seasons, the trees are beginning to bud and blossom, the fields are looking greener, and the spring buttercups are bright yellow. The dark, cold winter is about to be done.  I also feel and realize the season I am in spiritually is about to change.  I may have felt I was in a dark valley for a little while, but when I look around, I see the signs of a new season. There are times we may become overwhelmed in the middle of a rough season. I have heard many tell of the dark of winter, the hardness of enduring the loneliness of winter. There is a sadness and depression that may try to take hold when we are in the middle of a hard season, but we must keep our eyes on Jesus. He is our hope.

I was thinking and praying last week about this very thing when I felt God speak. "This season is just for a little while, seasons do not last forever, they end and a new one begins." We have hope that the dark seasons pass on and new seasons begin. If we are in the joyous, good seasons, enjoy them and store up the blessings because even these good times pass on. We rely on the blessings in the good times to sustain us in the rough times.

God does not leave us in the rough seasons. He is walking with us and leading us through every moment. It is so easy to get our eyes off of Him, but we can always trust that His ever loving presence is with us. He said:
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV

He is also our hiding place. We can place ourselves in His care and he protects and guards  us.
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Psalms 119:114 KJV

We can find comfort and safety knowing God is always with us.  We have a heavenly Father that loves us and cares for us in the good and in the bad.  He gives us joy. He gives us peace. He gives us hope.  No matter the season, He is still working for our good.   We may go through the barren, dark seasons, but we know that this too, shall pass. We will remain in this season, but for a little while. A new season is on the way.

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Acts 14:17 KJV

He will pour out blessings in due time. Seasons will be fruitful and full. A new season will bring with it great joy and gladness. There will be rain and growth. There will be filling and abundance in the soul.  There may be a rain coming and pouring out on the earth. But that means growth will follow.  Growth is life.

We need seasons of barren and dark to bring us seasons of growth and gladness. We cannot grow without either. We need our seasons. For some seasons push us into deeper prayer, bigger faith, aand greater reliance on God. Other seasons bring great rejoicing and praise that lifts and heightens our resolve to serve our Lord. These are the moments that refresh and strengthen our spirit and relationship with Jesus. 

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9 KJV

If you are in a season that is good, rejoice and draw in that hope and joy for you will need it in the next season. Enjoy the growth and praise Him for He is worthy. This is a season  that is good for you to store up the blessing of God to sustain you through the next rough season.

If you are in a rough season, keep praying and trusting God, for this season will end and the good will come again. Lean on His strength and know He is with you. Praise Him in these times for He is still good. I know God is able to do all things  and I know this season too will end and a new one begin.     

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 1:6‭-‬7 KJV

There is purpose in all seasons. There is a stretching and a growing and all the seasons we go through are to bring forth growth and change in us. God has purpose in it. We may not always know it and it may not feel easy at times, but God is working in all seasons to perfect His people. You are a work in progress  and this season is part of the process for you. He will lead and reveal His work in you.

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Daniel 2:20‭-‬22 KJV

I pray we trust His process and when we find that the season will be changing soon, we will still know He is for us.  We will rejoice as Daniel did and speak of the greatness of God.

Photo credit: Tabitha Stevens