The Spirit of Seasons
As we traverse this lifetime, Seasons come and they go.
The weather scientists tell us that there are four seasons to a year in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. They each occur on set dates and times of the year called solstices and equinoxes. Given the demonstrations of Mother Nature in the recent years, one may question a season -- when it begins and ends or even its characteristics.
As we embark upon the summer season, there’s excitement in the air, especially for those of us in the Midwest. The solstice seems to get stuck on Winter a little longer than we would like, making the arrival of warmer weather especially welcome.
We trade in winter coats for shorts and tank tops, switch out snow blowers for lawn mowers, choose fun outdoor festivals or even a movie in the park. We adapt, we prepare and act accordingly.
Just as we act and respond accordingly to weather seasons, it is important that we consider the same for our Spiritual Seasons. You know those times when it seems you’re being stretched to be more and do more than you’re accustomed to – and nothing drops out. Times when you faithfully prayed without ceasing, fasted, journaled, and yet it feels as if God is absent. Or when you can envision the promise, feel the promise, maybe even dreamed the promise but you’re still waiting for the promise.
These are examples of spiritual seasons. They don’t have specific start and end times, and they can vary in purpose. In every season, there’s a lesson to be learned, a testimony birthed to tell and a chance to grow stronger in your faith and lead purposeful lives dedicated to Christ.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) tells us:
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Every season of life provides us the opportunity to develop a closer relationship with God.
Like weather seasons, spiritual seasons also have characteristics:
Whether it is a good season or a bad season, it will eventually shift into something else. Such is life and its many transitions!
Seasons presents personal opportunities customized to you; tests, trials and training to prepare you for the future and God’s plan for your life. There may be times you feel like you’re in a “have you considered my servant Job” season and if you remain steadfast and trust in the Lord, you stand to undeniably grow a bit once you come out of it.
It’s not a measure of your worth or character but is a part of the human experience as a child of God. Seasons are spans of time that foster spiritual growth and forge a closer relationship with God, our Father. A difficult season does not mean you’re doing anything wrong; it’s God ordained.
Weather seasons prepare the earth; spiritual seasons prepare you for what’s ahead.
A spiritual season is a set of circumstances that influence our faith, our walk with God, and provide specific and necessary conditions to help us spiritually mature and live for Christ.
They are like everchanging chapters in our lives that God uses to mold our character, build our faith, and prepare us for eternity. We are His children –-joint heirs with Christ!
And just as you wouldn’t wear shorts and tank tops in the winter, it’s important to recognize when you’re in a spiritual season so that you respond accordingly. The first step to thriving and surviving in any season is identifying what kind of season you are in (e.g., waiting, testing, or reaping) and surrendering to God's Will. You may have to Fast, study the Bible more, nurture a spiritual gift or dust one off. You may be called to love more, give more, make a sacrifice of some sort.
Not consciously recognizing or even understanding you’re in a season, usually results in becoming overwhelmed, frustrated and/or discouraged -- all the things Satan looks for to bring you down for his use. Whatever the season calls for, you do what you need to do to get closer to Jesus and hear his voice. Seek his leading and guiding. Decrease self and roll with the Holy Spirit!
What works in one season may not work in another. So, whether it’s your wilderness season, growing season, pruning season, harvest season, waiting season, or a season God made especially for you -- recognize it, act accordingly and seek His Will for your life.
The weather scientists tell us that there are four seasons to a year in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. They each occur on set dates and times of the year called solstices and equinoxes. Given the demonstrations of Mother Nature in the recent years, one may question a season -- when it begins and ends or even its characteristics.
As we embark upon the summer season, there’s excitement in the air, especially for those of us in the Midwest. The solstice seems to get stuck on Winter a little longer than we would like, making the arrival of warmer weather especially welcome.
We trade in winter coats for shorts and tank tops, switch out snow blowers for lawn mowers, choose fun outdoor festivals or even a movie in the park. We adapt, we prepare and act accordingly.
Just as we act and respond accordingly to weather seasons, it is important that we consider the same for our Spiritual Seasons. You know those times when it seems you’re being stretched to be more and do more than you’re accustomed to – and nothing drops out. Times when you faithfully prayed without ceasing, fasted, journaled, and yet it feels as if God is absent. Or when you can envision the promise, feel the promise, maybe even dreamed the promise but you’re still waiting for the promise.
These are examples of spiritual seasons. They don’t have specific start and end times, and they can vary in purpose. In every season, there’s a lesson to be learned, a testimony birthed to tell and a chance to grow stronger in your faith and lead purposeful lives dedicated to Christ.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV) tells us:
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Every season of life provides us the opportunity to develop a closer relationship with God.
Like weather seasons, spiritual seasons also have characteristics:
- They are temporary
Whether it is a good season or a bad season, it will eventually shift into something else. Such is life and its many transitions!
- They serve a purpose
Seasons presents personal opportunities customized to you; tests, trials and training to prepare you for the future and God’s plan for your life. There may be times you feel like you’re in a “have you considered my servant Job” season and if you remain steadfast and trust in the Lord, you stand to undeniably grow a bit once you come out of it.
- They are divinely ordained
It’s not a measure of your worth or character but is a part of the human experience as a child of God. Seasons are spans of time that foster spiritual growth and forge a closer relationship with God, our Father. A difficult season does not mean you’re doing anything wrong; it’s God ordained.
Weather seasons prepare the earth; spiritual seasons prepare you for what’s ahead.
A spiritual season is a set of circumstances that influence our faith, our walk with God, and provide specific and necessary conditions to help us spiritually mature and live for Christ.
They are like everchanging chapters in our lives that God uses to mold our character, build our faith, and prepare us for eternity. We are His children –-joint heirs with Christ!
And just as you wouldn’t wear shorts and tank tops in the winter, it’s important to recognize when you’re in a spiritual season so that you respond accordingly. The first step to thriving and surviving in any season is identifying what kind of season you are in (e.g., waiting, testing, or reaping) and surrendering to God's Will. You may have to Fast, study the Bible more, nurture a spiritual gift or dust one off. You may be called to love more, give more, make a sacrifice of some sort.
Not consciously recognizing or even understanding you’re in a season, usually results in becoming overwhelmed, frustrated and/or discouraged -- all the things Satan looks for to bring you down for his use. Whatever the season calls for, you do what you need to do to get closer to Jesus and hear his voice. Seek his leading and guiding. Decrease self and roll with the Holy Spirit!
What works in one season may not work in another. So, whether it’s your wilderness season, growing season, pruning season, harvest season, waiting season, or a season God made especially for you -- recognize it, act accordingly and seek His Will for your life.
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
January
February
April
July
September
October
November
2024
July
October
2023
July
September
November
December
Categories
no categories
No Comments