Life's Seasons

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1), The beauty in the way God designed the four seasons is that, though each one is distinct, they all work together to bring life and growth. Spring is a period of freshness and new life. Summer sees growth and productivity. Autumn is a time for harvesting the rewards of past labors. Winter is the season of dormancy and closure. Each season has its own unique beauty and makes a significant contribution to life. Just as God planned seasons in nature, He planned seasons in life as well. Life has its springtime, when we begin new things and look excitedly toward the future. Summer comes and we work diligently in the heat of the day at all that God has assigned to us. With autumn comes the fruition of things begun at an earlier time in our lives. Winter brings an end to a particular period in our lives. Sometimes winter brings hardship, but we remain hopeful, for another spring is just around the corner! In God's perfect design for our lives, He has planned for times of fruitfulness and activity. He will also build in times of quiet and rest. There will be times when He asks us to remain faithful doing the same work day after day. But there will also be periods of excitement and new beginnings. By God's grace, we will enjoy seasons of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness. By God's grace, we will also overcome the cold winters of heartache and grief, for without winter there would be no spring. Just as it is with the seasons of nature, these seasons in our lives work together to bring about God's perfect will for each one of us. —Henry T. Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God Day by Day

If you are walking through a difficult season—emotionally, mentally, or spiritually—it may feel as though winter has settled in for good. The days can feel long, progress slow, and hope hard to come by. But Scripture gently reminds us: “To everything there is a season…” That includes this one. Like the rhythms of nature, the seasons of our lives are not random. They are part of God’s design—a sacred cycle of growth, rest, pruning, and renewal. Winter may feel barren, but beneath the surface, God is still at work—strengthening roots, preparing soil, and nurturing what cannot yet be seen.

God is not only present in seasons of joy or accomplishment—He is with us in the quiet, hidden, hard places too. If today feels still or stagnant, it is not the end of your story. Spring always comes. And you are not forgotten while you wait. Even here, even now, God is holding you, working in ways you may not yet understand. No season is wasted. Each one serves a purpose. Trust that the One who holds the seasons in His hands is also holding you—and He is faithful to bring life again. —DH