Seasons

God gave us four seasons--spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Spring is a great time of rebirth. The leaves come out on the trees and flowers bloom in beautiful colors. Baby animals are born. Nature comes alive again after a cold, dead winter. Summer is a time for playing in the water and spending family time together doing activities outdoors. If you can afford it, it's the time to travel and enjoy vacations. Summer can be overwhelming with its heat. Autumn comes around with crisp air and cooler temperatures. The leaves put on a gorgeous display as they turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow. Farmers gather in their harvests, and a time of Thanksgiving is celebrated. Then comes winter. Most trees are bare, and some animals hibernate. The world is cold, and darkness lasts longer than day.

Like our natural world around us, our lives also have seasons. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, the Bible reads, "To every thing 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."

There is a natural progression to our lives here on earth. We are born as little infants. Next, we experience childhood. Soon after we are teenagers, and finally we age into adulthood. After God is finished with us here, we go on to be with Him. Through this life's journey, we experience seasons of joy, such as a new relationship or getting started as newlyweds on a honeymoon. Joy comes when families grow. Fulfillment can come by achieving a goal or having a great career. Happiness comes easily when things are going well. There are also seasons of pain, weeping, and mourning. Sickness may strike you or a loved one. You may lose someone you love dearly and feel that you cannot endure the grief. Maybe your children have turned away from God and are living a life of sin and it pains you to see them walk down paths of destruction when they have been taught better. Financial loss or strain has broken many a marriage and driven many people to suicide.

A powerful example of seasons is found in the life of Joseph. He had a season of being the beloved son of his father. His brothers were jealous that Joseph was highly favored and had dreams involving their submission to him. The brothers threw Joseph into a pit and sold him into slavery. This must have been a terrible season of sorrow for Joseph. He became a favored servant to Potiphar, until his wife lied on Joseph and he was cast into prison. The Bible details this in Genesis 40:4, "And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward." Joseph must have wondered why things were going so horribly for him, especially since he was innocent of any wrongdoing. By interpreting a dream for pharaoh, Joseph was promoted to the right hand of Egypt. The land was saved from famine because of Joseph's wisdom. Indeed, when Joseph's own brothers came to Egypt for food, they benefitted. Joseph told them in Genesis 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."

God did not promise us that life would be easy, but He promised to walk with us through every season of life. He said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). Isaiah 61:3 says, “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.” God can take situations that seemed evil, and turn them for good, as in the life of Joseph. Another verse that holds a similar promise is Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

We can also encourage one another as we walk through the seasons of life. Isaiah 50:4 states, "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary..." Proverbs 15:23 says, "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Ephesians 4:29 encourages, "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen." Proverbs 16:24 states, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 12:25 declares, "Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up." Our words have great power to help others who are going through tough times.

Seasons will come and go, but our God controls it all. He is faithful and steadfast. He is unstoppable and omniscient. His purpose will prevail. He fills all time and eternity; He created the world and everything in it--yet He knows your name! Glory to God!