On the farm where my grandfather lived his life, there were specific jobs that had to be done in each of the seasons.
During the fall of the year, the red winter wheat was planted. Winter was when all the equipment got overhauled in preparation for the next year’s work. Spring was when the white spring wheat was planted; weeds were plowed under, and the crops were fertilized. By early summer the harvester would emerge from the barn to be prepared for the work to come.
As the wheat would begin to turn golden brown, everyone knew that harvest was near. Every morning as the sun began to break over the horizon Grandpa would walk into the field, grab a head of wheat, rub it in his hands to remove the chaff, and then eat a kernel or two. “Not yet,” he’d say, “maybe tomorrow.” Farming is a risky business, but Grandpa was one of the best farmers around because he understood the reason for the seasons and did what was needed in each.
God has seasons for our lives as well. So, as we close out one year and begin a new one afresh, it seems fitting to consider what God has in store for us in the seasons of our lives.
Winter: The Season of Storms
In every winter season that I have lived through, there have been storms. Regardless of the size of the storm, you can be sure in every winter season there will be storms. Storms tend to come upon you quickly without warning, and then just as quickly they fade away.
In our lives, we will face many seasons of “storms.” When we are faced with storms in our life, we need to seek the shelter of God’s love. When we do, God promises to comfort us and to deliver us. Paul wrote,
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
So, the next time you find yourself in the middle of a storm call out to God in prayer and know that He has promised not only to comfort you but to deliver you.
Spring: The Season of Growth
For the farmer, spring is the time for planting and nurturing young seedlings. When you are in a spring season, you need to plant seeds. It’s a great time for making changes, building better relationships, focusing on new ministries, new businesses, or developing new habits.
Spring is a time of great energy. It is the best time to renew our perspective on life, review God’s purpose for our life, and praise God for all He has done for us. Remember,
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (I Corinthians 3:7).
Summer: The Season of Waiting
After the seeds are in the ground, there is little the farmer can do. He must wait for the crop to grow. Things like wind and rain are beyond the farmer’s control; he must wait until the crop is ready for harvest.
We have similar times in our lives. We may have planted the seed of a new ministry or a new business, and now we must wait to see it grow. So many times, God tells us to wait for Him, but it is difficult because we are so impatient. The psalmist instructed us to
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7).
I believe that sometimes the greatest test of our faith is when God wants us to wait. Remember, God answers all our prayers. Sometimes the answer is “yes,” sometimes it is “no,” and sometimes it is “not yet.” It’s those “not yets” that challenge my faith. When I am faced with a “not yet” I try to remember Grandpa checking the wheat and saying, “Not yet, maybe tomorrow.”
Fall: The Season of Success
The fall is the time for harvest; bringing in the crop that was so carefully planted and nurtured in the spring, and so fretfully worried over in the summer.
It is in our seasons of success that we must be careful to stay close to God. It is the time when we think we can do anything, a time when we think we are solely responsible for the harvest. Jesus said,
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).
Celebrate, share, and save. It’s a good formula for business; thank God for the success He has brought, share your success with others, and save for the future.
One Final Thought
God gives us seasons to build our trust in Him and to develop us into better people. During winter storms, we need to turn to Him for deliverance. In the spring, we need to be renewed in mind, body and spirit. In the summer, we need to trust in God, rest and wait upon Him. And in the fall, we need to celebrate our success, share our bountiful harvest, and save for the future.
No matter what season you may be in now, know that God stands beside you ready to comfort and deliver you if you will just trust in Him. Isaiah, referring to God, wrote,
“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge” (Isaiah 33:6).
God’s foundation is a Rock, who will never leave us or forsake us. Who better to turn to during the storms of our life? Who better to look to for comfort and deliverance? Who better to build a solid foundation for our lives? Who better to trust and provide rest? Who better to share our love? The answer is simple. There is no one better!
Bonus Whitepaper
This week’s post is excerpted from a 5-page whitepaper entitled, “The Seasons of Life: Seeking God in Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall.”
This whitepaper includes a discussion of God’s seasons in our life and a broader discussion of each season.
You can download the whitepaper here: “The Seasons of Life: Seeking God in Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall.”
Join the Conversation
As always questions and comments are welcome. What season of life are you in right now?
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Category: Personal Development | Dependence on God
Ron- Excellent post today! I like the point about summer and “waiting.” I tend to be impatient and driven. I forget that there is grace in waiting. Thanks for this reminder.
Thanks, John! Summer’s time of waiting is the hardest for me as well!
I love the season analogy that you use. I especially like the analogy used comparing the season of Summer to the season of waiting. It would be a far stretch to say that I am a patient person. It’s not that I don’t trust the process, it’s just that I get caught up in the moment and all of the sudden I have rushed into something without thinking. Then all of the sudden everything stops around me and I’m caught totally off guard. It’s like the age old law of inertia, objects in motion stay in motion. People get caught up in the spring mentality where they are flying all over the place and starting all of these different little projects. I feel like I am always “stuck in summer” where I am waiting for plans that I have put into motion, to come into fruition. Then all of the sudden its ‘Fall’ and everything is happening at once. In closing, I just remember the Serenity prayer “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference”
Ben,
Well said. I’ve experienced the same issue many times in my life where I have rushed into too many things without thinking. It has almost always bitten me. I have to work hard not to get ahead of God’s plan for my life!
I really liked how you used the seasons to talk about all the different “seasons” we find ourselves in as Christians. Right now I am definitely in the spring season which is perfect since it is about to be spring in a few weeks! I recently got accepted to go on an action team this summer which is a new ministry, and I am also trying to figure out work or an internship to go along with that so that is also new things on the horizon! I also really liked how you picture your grandpa saying “not yet” about the wheat when you are stuck waiting in a summer season.
Megan, Great to hear you are in the spring season experiencing growth. It is a rich and rewarding time!
I really enjoyed the devotional this week and think it is such a great reminder that our life is going to constantly be changing and going through different seasons. For myself right now, I am in the season of winter. With a lot of craziness going on in my life, sometimes I get very overwhelmed. This weeks post was a great reminder that I need to continue to lean on God and completely trust in Him for he provides comfort and deliverance from the storm.
Yes Allison, trust in God for comfort and deliverance from the storms of life. Spring is right around the corner!
Great article! This is a beautiful comparison and reminder that God uses seasons in our life to grow us. No matter what season we are in, He is working out a specific plan. That is why is it so important to use each season that He gives us and not rush or waste it. Our ideas, thoughts, and plans are always subject to His ultimate plan and we must rely on Him to move us from season to season. Sometimes I find myself wishing that I was ready to graduate or move onto the next thing in life and I have to remind myself to take full advantage of what God has given me in the here and now.
Well said, Rachel! Always find ways to take advantage of every experience and every season of life!
Interesting God bless and strengthen you in His vineyard.
Amen
Thanks, Vivian!
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