91 of 365 - Seasons

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what 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 seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
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God is a God of seasons. God’s story is one of seasons…slowly, orderly, methodically revealing His plan for salvation. A season of the first humans walking with God, a season of rebellion, a season of establishing a covenant, a season of receiving God’s law for right living, a season of slavery, a season of wandering, a season of war, a season of victory, a season of judges, a season of prophets, a season of waiting, a season of God in the flesh on earth, a season of declaring the good news, a season of anticipating Jesus’s return and the final victory over death. Through all of the seasons, the story is the same…we cannot save ourselves from ourselves, but in God’s justice, mercy, and grace, His plan all along is in His Son who redeems and restores us. Every season reveals layers of this truth.

Years cycle through seasons, and in our individual lives, we also go through seasons…some filled with laughter and some with tears. We have seasons of growing, maturing, listening, hurting, learning, leading, sowing, reaping, teaching, nurturing, healing, waiting...

This short time on earth is fluid. It isn’t about finally “getting there;” finally getting through the hard stuff and coasting in the easy. It is about growing more and more like Jesus. And the various seasons in our lives are part of the process. If you are in a difficult season, know that it isn’t the end. A new and better season is coming.

Questions: How would you describe your current season? How might it be part of God’s bigger plan for you? Spend time in prayer embracing your season and all God has for it. Google Seasons by Hillsong to listen to in your quiet time.