“Understanding the Seasons of Life” Pt 1 of 5:
When God created the earth, He set up seasons of weather. In Genesis 8:22 we find, “As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night.” We know about seasonal weather patterns, but do you realize God also established seasons of human activity? The “Seasons of Life.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” The New Century Version states, “Everything on earth has its special season.” Every gardener and farmer knows that if you don’t have changes in seasons, your plants aren’t going to make it. Seasonal changes are necessary for plants to grow.
The same thing in true in life. We have to go through various seasons in order to mature and grow. This week we’ll look at five general facts regarding these seasons.
- THEY ARE BEYOND MY CONTROL: You can’t control when they happen, how long they happen, and you can’t control the location or duration of them. There are times we all face things that “just happen” and in a flash our agenda and expectations vanish. Grief is a season, as is an extended illness. Every one of us is going to lose a loved ones in our lifetime and you can’t control that. It’s frustrating that we know what the seasons of life will be in our life, but we can’t figure out exactly when they are going to happen or which is going to happen next.
So, who determines the seasons? God does. Daniel says, “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; He changes times and seasons…” (2:20-21). God is Sovereign which means He is the absolute, supreme ruler and sustainer of all creation, possessing ultimate authority and power over every event, person, and detail in the universe. Nothing happens outside of God’s control, permission, or eternal plan, ensuring all things ultimately serve his purpose.
We’re often frustrated when things are out of our control. But there is comfort in knowing God will never let us walk through anything alone. He’s with you at this very moment. (Part 2 tomorrow: The Seasons of Life are often confusing).
Pastor Carnes
