The Secret To Joy - Embracing Your Season
One of the fastest paths to discontentment with your life and resentment with God is not embracing the season you’re in. Not every season is fun, but every season is necessary. Look at nature. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter all serve specific and unique purposes. You can’t have spring without winter, and you won’t have Fall without Summer. God works through seasons.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…” - Ecclesiastes 3:1
The bible tells us there is a time and season for EVERYTHING. Embracing your season will set you up to have joy, peace, and purpose no matter what you’re facing. However, if you don’t understand what kind of season you’re in then you’ll pursue things out of God’s timing and grow frustrated. You may even begin to feel as if God’s abandoned you. If you feel that way right now then let me assure you that isn’t the case. Each season prepares you for the next. That’s why it’s crucial to learn how to recognize your season so you can be fruitful instead of frustrated.
How to Recognize Your Current Season
If you’re not sure what kind of season you’re in think about what God’s been asking you to do. There are so many different types of seasons in life. Seasons can overlap and some last longer than others. Here are a few examples (this is by no means an exhaustive list):
Season of testing - You’re experiencing situation(s) that are very tempting and force you to rely on God for strength and guidance. God uses these seasons to free you from sins that have a hold on you, deepen your faith, and increase your dependence on Him.
Season of pruning - God is removing things from your life (or asking you to) that are hindering your faith, negatively influencing you, or that you’ve simply outgrown. This season is to prepare you for what’s next.
Season of planting/sowing - God’s called you to start preparing for or building something new. It could be for school, a business, or even a future relationship. This season requires discipline, commitment, and hard work.
Season of reaping - You’re seeing the final results (or consequences) of the actions you’ve been taking. If you’ve been faithful to God this is usually a fun and lively season. Examples: You’re getting promoting, your business is booming, your relationships are healthy, or you're experiencing financial abundance. This season should be enjoyed, but be sure to steward your blessings responsibly.
Season of faith-building - God is stretching you and asking you to do things that don’t make sense or that are difficult. He’s growing your faith and revealing to you more of His character and will.
Season of trials and hardships - Everything that can go wrong is. These seasons are enough to make you want to curl up in the corner and give up. God uses these to strengthen you, to remove anything you depend on besides Him, and to deepen your intimacy with Him. He’s there through it all.
Season of singleness (no dating) - This season is to maximize your impact for the Kingdom, get to know yourself better, and find wholeness in God. Your relationship with your future spouse is a direct reflection of your relationship with God. Take time to learn how to love, be faithful, and have a servant’s heart.
How to Embrace it
How to embrace your season can be summed up in one sentence: Fulfill God’s will for your now. Embracing requires discipline and daily surrender. Don’t give up and let your flesh win when it gets hard. Fight to be faithful. Spend time in God’s presence and learn to have joy. Joy isn’t based on what’s going on around you but what ‘s going on within you. You won’t have joy if you’re constantly focusing on your circumstances, what you want but don’t yet have, or how this moment in your life is not measuring up.
You make known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. - Psalm 16:11
I’ve learned that you’ll never have joy if you believe a single life-event will complete or satisfy you. Perfection is an ever-increasing scale of measurement. What will satisfy you now won’t be enough to satisfy you later. Therefore, find beauty in what God is doing in your life right now. You may not have the salary you desire, but has God provided? Have you come to know Him more deeply through the struggle? You may still be single, but have you learned what it feels like to be alone and whole? To desire a spouse out of want and not need, because God is all you need.
If you’re in a tough season and suffering consequences of your mistakes or sin, please don’t be discouraged. Romans 8:28 tells us that God works ALL things together for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. You’re not excluded from experiencing joy. Repent, surrender, and watch God redeem your situation. It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9
All we are given and all that we go through can be used for His glory. No matter what may come, you’ll know that your security, peace, joy, and hope aren’t determined by what you have or what you lose - they will be solely rooted in Christ. In every season your life will be a testimony of God’s goodness and fulfill your ultimate purpose of bringing Him glory.
