Seasons

Daniel 2:20-21 GNT God is wise and powerful! Praise him forever and ever. He controls the times and the seasons; he makes and unmakes kings; it is he who gives wisdom and understanding.

Each of us, in one way or another, is seeking breakthrough in our lives. It is why we use the beginning of each year to set goals and resolutions. We desire change, yet we also resist the very change and transition we desire. We become rigid in our ways, losing the flexibility and pliability that God needs to completely fill us and use us. Times of change and transition often leave us feeling vulnerable, yet this is the very place where God is able to do his greatest work.

For 400 years, the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. They cried out to the Lord for deliverance. God heard their cries and raised Moses up to lead them from captivity. Yet at the first signs of trouble or difficulties, the Israelites wanted to go back. They glorified their memories of Eqypt and feared the future more than they trusted God. Then, after 700 years of messianic prophecy, the Pharisees resisted change because it did not look like they thought it would. They trusted in a religion based on rules and law more than relationship-based grace and mercy. They loved their lofty role as spiritual police rather than the servant leader of being a shepherd to the people.

Even after Jesus told the disciples he would be crucified but then resurrected, Peter resisted change when he chopped off the servant's ear at the Garden of Gethsemane. He trusted his own vision of what the Kingdom of God would be more than God’s plan to bring redemption.

Recognizing our seasons of life and the times of transition—moving from one season of life to another—are crucial to a life focused on Christ and his faithfulness. Successful transition always starts the same way…..surrender. There is always a letting go required to gain peace and fully grasp the blessings of a new season. Unless we embrace the times when we are completely at God's mercy, we will never fully experience God's faithfulness. We will never know how personal He is or that He can be trusted to meet the deepest needs in our lives. God wants us to know that we are "called by name" (Isaiah 43:1) and that every hair of our head is numbered. His love for us knows no bounds, and He will take every opportunity to demonstrate that fact.

In an instant, the world of Peter was completely changed. From believing the redemption of Jesus was only for the Jews to moments later (courtsey of dramatic heavenly vision), He proclaimed, “Even to Gentiles, God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). It was a transition from everything Peter had ever known. He believed Israel was not only God’s chosen people, but Israel was God’s only people. Suddenly, “for God so loved the entire world that he gave his only son” (John 3:16) became real. His identity, his calling, and his future changed in that very moment.

So often, we resist when God transitions us from one season of life to another. We dig in our heels and state, “This is not what I expected!” Only for God to gently say, “Follow me, and you will lie down in green pastures and beside still waters. My goodness, mercy, and unfailing love will follow you all the days of your life” (Psalm 23).

What season of life and transition do you find yourself in? Are you trusting, embracing, or resisting? Trust Him in this season. “I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness in this life. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (Psalms 27:13–14).

1 Corinthians 15:58 TPT So now, beloved ones, stand firm, stable, and enduring. Live your lives with unshakable confidence. We know that we prosper and excel in every season by serving the Lord, because we are assured that our union with the Lord makes our labor productive with fruit that endures.

Proverbs 10:5 TPT Know the importance of the season you’re in and a wise son you will be.

Galatians 6:9 TPT The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!

2 Timothy 4:2 TPT Live and proclaim the Word of God and stand upon it no matter what! Rise to the occasion, both in season and out of season, when it is convenient and when it is not.

Philippians 4:4 TPT Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow!

Psalms 74:17 TPT The four corners of the earth were formed by your hands, and every changing season owes its beauty to you.

Mark 13:32-33 TPT Concerning that day and exact hour, no one knows when it will arrive, not the angels of heaven, not even the Son—only the Father knows. This is why you must be waiting, watching, and praying, because no one knows when that season of time will come.

2 Corinthians 8:2 TPT For even during a season of severe difficulty, tremendous suffering, and extreme poverty, their super-abundant joy overflowed into an act of extravagant generosity.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

Hebrews 10:32 TPT Don’t you remember those days right after the Light shined in your hearts?  You endured a great marathon season of suffering hardships, yet you stood your ground.

Psalms 69:13 TPT But I keep calling out to you, Yahweh ! I know you will bend down to listen to me, for now is the season of favor. Because of your faithful love for me, your answer to my prayer will be my sure salvation.

Leviticus 26:3-4 NIV If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.

Genesis 8:22 GNT As long as the world exists, there will be a season for planting and a season for harvest. There will always be cold and heat, summer and winter, day, and night.

Deuteronomy 33:13-16 GNT About the tribe of Joseph he said: May the Lord bless their land with rain and with water from under the earth. May their land be blessed with sun-ripened fruit, rich with the best fruits of each season. May their ancient hills be covered with choice fruit. May their land be filled with all that is good, blessed by the goodness of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 28:12 NIV The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.

Ezekiel 34:26-27 NIV I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.