God and Seasons
It’s easy to have a love-hate relationship with seasons.
I love when I start to smell the citrus trees blossoming in Arizona, but I hate the allergies that accompany this season.
I love when I can wake up to sunshine and enjoy longer daylight hours, but I hate how hot it gets in the summer.
I love watching the lightning on repeat each evening, but I hate the reality of driving in monsoon rains.
See what I mean?
The same can be true of seasons in our lives. Seasons can feel good and bad. You can celebrate and suffer at the same time. It’s confusing! We like tidy boxes for our seasons, don’t we? We like our label makers and our compartmentalized organization.
But, seasons don’t work that way.
And I’m finding more and more that it’s a great thing. Here’s why….
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
If we had a handle on all seasons at all times, if we knew what to expect around each bend in the road, if nothing made us feel uncertain or uneasy…what would that do to our reliance on God? How would that lessen our need to trust in Him with our entire heart?
I had an “aha” moment the other day as I realized—sometimes I operate as if I’ll one day have it all figured out on my own. I’d never say that, but I realized it was a subconscious idea in my heart of what success looked like. So, praise God for seasons! I need Him every day. Every hour! And I always will.
Here are three truths that have become very apparent to me in changing seasons:
#1 Seasons shift, but our God does not.
I highly recommend that you read the entirety of Psalm 46, but the first three verses give a good summary of God being our security during uncertainty:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Psalm 46:1-3
Life’s shifting seasons are inevitable. But in the midst of them, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
This truth is so grounding in a world full of twists and turns. You can rely on God. He is steadfast, secure, good, faithful, and a solid rock for you to stand on in all seasons.
#2 God doesn’t waste our time.
It’s easy to think “if only” a few steps down the road, a specific change in our season and then we’ll be able to do the work God has asked of us. But, God doesn’t waste our time.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24
Today, and every day, God is calling you to obedience. Are you near enough to hear His voice clearly? If you are, you’ll know that every day is a chance to rejoice in the ministry He is calling you to.
Who has He placed in your life today?
Where has He uniquely positioned you today?
THIS is the day the Lord has made.
#3 God equips us for each season He carries us through.
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-21
One of the best ways for you to be confident in the season God has place you is to remember He is equipping you for it. The God who created you, who knows you intimately, and who holds your future, has equipped you. And He has a great track record of doing it well.
You can walk forward, in whatever season you find yourself, with confidence—not because of your own strength or ability, but because of a God who is faithful to deliver His promises to us.
Friend, I might not know the exact season you’re in today. But I can tell you with confidence that God wants your heart to be close to His today. Maybe you need to take the step of talking to Him. Tell Him the season you’re in and how you feel about it. Then, ask Him what it would look like to trust Him with your season.
Don’t navigate life’s seasons without a trusted Guide. God is with you!
— Emily Heaton
About Emily
As a worship leader, singer, and content writer, Emily is passionate about communication. Through her copywriting business (Words By Emily) as well as her experience in songwriting and blogging, she loves to use words to creatively communicate truth.