In life and in nature and in the spiritual realm their are seasons which we are all subject to and have to learn to work with and not against.
A farmer for example weighs up three variables before sowing a crop, soil temperature, air temperature & calendar. Maybe it’s possible you could get a week of dry mild weather in the middle of February but a farmer knows the winter weather will return so he will not sow his crop.
In life we also have many seasons, we are born and in our early years we learn to walk & talk and just learn what’s acceptable and what isn’t.
Then the tricky teenage years, early adulthood and so on.
I once heard a quote from someone who said, “Early on a son thinks his father is a hero figure, later on in their teenage years they think their father knows nothing and they are almost embarrassed to be seen with him! When they hit early adulthood they start to think maybe he knows a thing or two, as the years roll by they realise he knows a whole lot more than they ever gave him credit for until the day he’s gone and they wish they could have spent more time with him!”
In our spiritual lives there are also seasons. There is a time when we are born spiritually, then we start to grow, we take baby spiritual steps, we feed on the spiritual milk of the word.
“Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,”
1 Peter 2:2 NLT
We fall & get back up again. Our Father in heaven is always there to help us get back up and get onto our feet.
Proverbs 24:16 ESV
For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
He will correct us when we go wrong like a child who tests the boundaries.
“You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?”
Hebrews 12:7 AMPC
Eventually we grow and become mature and are ready for spiritual meat.
“But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
Hebrews 5:14 ESV
So in life, in love, in nature and in our spiritual lives we must learn to move with the seasons. Each one will be different and present its own challenges.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
It will never be plain sailing, storms and setbacks will come, it should come as no surprise when they come.
1 Peter 4:12-13 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
God is faithful, He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
“Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.””
Hebrews 13:5 NLT
We should not fear when the winter comes, when the last and most difficult season is upon us we can rejoice because Jesus said he will go and prepare a place for us:
John 14:1-3
[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Lord help us to thrive in each season of our lives, thank you that you are faithful, you are a good good Father, help us to grow and mature, to become more and more like Jesus each day.
Amen
