Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven;
2 A time to be born, a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck what 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;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace.
Just like there are four seasons every year, our life experiences four spiritual seasons as well. It is important to note that in every season that there are moments to celebrate and moments that are challenging and discouraging. The most important principle to glean from each spiritual season is that the Holy Spirit is always with us in every season and that our relationship with Jesus Christ firm and unshakable.
This is how I define each spiritual season:
1. Spring- It is a time of preparation and planting seeds and also a time where we experience incredible blossoming and renewal. It is also a time when we must work to keep the weeds (distractions from impeding growth.
2. Summer- Summer is characterized by days that the light of the Son is bright in our life and that there is a time of rest and refreshing. It is also a time when storms are stronger but Jesus is our source of peace the midst of them.
3. Fall-Fall is characterized as a time of harvest from the labor of the previous seasons. It is also a time where we find ourselves needing to spiritually rake the areas of our life that seem to pile up and frustrate us.
4. Winter- Winter is characterized by what feels like we are not experiencing growth and the days are darker and that God is far from us (though He is not). In our winter season, we have the Holy Spirit as our comforter who envelops us like a blanket to keep us from the bitterness of the coldness of the world around us.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE SEASONS IS THAT GOD IS WITH US THROUGH EACH ONE FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END!
