To Every Thing There Is a Season

by Karen S. Roberts

Seasons Aren’t Always What We Expect

Normally where I live in northwest New York, October is a chilly month.  Usually by the second week of October, for the most part, the leaves have changed colors. But we’ve had an unusually warm autumn this year.  On some days the highs have been in the 80’s. We are just now coming off a good number of days in the 70’s.  This has delayed some of the leaves from changing colors.  Finally this week I’m seeing a lot more colorful leaves.  But some trees are still green, while others have already lost their leaves.  This was not the type of fall season that I expected, although I’ve certainly enjoyed the warmer than usual weather!

The Seasons of Life

Our lives are made up of many seasons.  And they always don’t turn out the way we expected them to.  Life is full of surprises, both good and bad.  We plan on one thing, and it turns out differently.  But sometimes that means it turned out better.  Then there are those other times…

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that God is at work in us throughout the various seasons of our lives.  Even when things seem to go wrong, He is faithfully weaving together situations for our good.  Perhaps we are growing in Christ-likeness because of the hard things we are going through.  Maybe we are reaping blessings because of sacrifices and choices made in the past. Even when we didn’t handle certain seasons in our lives well, He was there teaching us and drawing us to Himself through our circumstances.

Cooperating With God’s Work Through Our Seasons

Of course, our cooperation with the work He is doing in us throughout the seasons of life helps things turn out better. When we are resistant and complaining, we aren’t moving forward into the growth and blessings that He has for us.  Isn’t it great that He loves us so much that He doesn’t give up on us during those times when we are stubborn?  He keeps trying to get our attention and draws us to HImself.

If you are going through one of the tougher seasons in your life right now, I’d like to share with you a secret that I’ve found to be true throughout many of my own seasons.  Spend time thanking and praising God.  Tell Him you trust Him.  Thank Him that He is working everything out for good in your life because you love Him. (Romans 8:28).  Express the joy of the Lord.  Laugh and sing.  Ask people to pray for you.  Find promises in His Word and quote them to yourself out loud.  All of these things will help you through the hard seasons and help to speed up the victory that eventually will come.

Don’t get bogged down by concentrating on past disappointments.  Instead look forward to spending time in an appointment with God every day.  Remember, everyone goes through various seasons of life.  But we don’t have to go through them alone.  And some seasons are simply wonderful!  When you are in a great season, encourage others that they will make it through and come out better than when they entered their not so great season!

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

Enjoy this old song based on this verse, “Turn, Turn, Turn.”

Please comment below.  What type of season of life are you in?