The “Seasons” in our lives – By Ian September
“Embrace the seasons of life, for it is just that….. a season”
I would like to share with you church, an experience or encounter I had with God, at around 1:45pm, some time ago. And the Lord spoke so clearly to my heart, and I was so excited, that I even woke my wife and told her about what God revealed to me!
I actually wrote it down the next morning, because I knew that I had to share this someday, so here it is….
God spoke to me in such a quiet, gentle tone of voice …. Saying,
“As there are seasons in nature, and as they come to an end and a new season starts, so is the season that you’re in right now, about to end. I will pour out rain on your dry and parched land and your pastures will be green …. And you will eat of the fat of the land again!”
But that’s not all (everybody)
So I pretty much knew what I was about to share with you all, and then last week Sunday, Pastor George prophesized over the congregation, quoting:
Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) – “See I am doing a new thing; Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
As I listened to Pastor George, I realised that God mentioned the beginning of a new season, through the prophet Isaiah!
“I’m about to do a new thing” meaning that you’re currently in a situation, a season, that is about to change, amen! Vs. 18 “Forget the former things and do not dwell on the old.” “For I am about to do something new!”
So, I have it on high authority today, that God is about to change your seasons, if you’ll allow Him to! But that’s not all.
Pastor Kobus Massyn then came up to preach the Word, speaking from the Book of Ruth! He also mentioned the season in Naomi’s life, where she left the land of Judah in abundance, with a husband, two sons and two daughter in laws, only to return in a season of emptiness. Ruth 1:20 – “Do not call me Naomi (sweetness, pleasant) but call me Mara (bitterness) for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me!”
What more confirmation could I ask for, church? In one night two men spoke about the seasons in life.
Please turn you Bibles to
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV) – There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
There is indeed a time for anything, a season for every activity under the heavens! I am 100% sure that every human being on planet earth, is in a season right now… every single one in this service or those watching online! You’re in a season, Amen?
Some or many of us are enjoying the “summer season” right now, all is well, with long lazy days of warm sun and carefree days…. Others are in “Spring” with all its awesome colours, flowers blooming, and you have a sense of rebirth and renewal.
Many other people are in their “Autumn” season… You’re beginning to notice the shorter days of sunlight, a colder breeze at night… while others are smack-bang in the dead of winter!! (Anybody?)
But please realise church that seasons represents different times or experiences in our lives… we will experience joy, laughter, and happiness, but also sorrow and grief, loss, and pain! Yes, it is so!
Realise today church, that it takes different seasons in our lives, for God to mould us and make us what He wants us to be, amen? But unlike the only 4 natural seasons, we will face many in our lives!
Today I can mention so many Bible characters, who went from summer, autumn, winter and spring, who endured their seasons, but never gave up on life!
James 1:12 (NIV) – Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
This Scripture reminds me so much of Job (anybody?)
Job was in his “summer season”, he had plenty, he prospered in everything… there was no one like him in the land.
Job 1:1-3 (NIV) – In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2He had seven sons and three daughters, 3and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
Until God gave Satan permission to test Job.
Job went from a place of abundance, to a place of misery and grief. From luxury to an ash-heap, scraping his boils, even cursing the day he was born! But in all of this (seasons) Job did not sin against God! WOW
Well, maybe you’re like Job right now, having lost everything that was precious to you, and people around you are actually surprised that you’re still standing… well church, Job realised that the same God who brought him to it, will also bring him through it, amen! Job realised that every setback, is just a setup for a comeback, and so should we, church!
“And the Lord restored to Job twice as much as he had before.” This promise is for somebody here today… God will restore to you twice as much as what you had before!
Can I just say: that being faithful like Job means that we will endure challenges along the way… we will encounter sad, bad and negative events and emotions… but if we patiently wait upon the Lord, we will see His salvation in every situation, amen church?
I have a strong sense in my heart, that there are people here today present, and you feel like you’re stuck in winter all your life, your life is like a typical Cape Town winter’s day.
Your seasons are just not changing; well
Maybe it’s a result of sinful habits, or offenses that was never dealt with, never confessed, never left at the foot of the cross. Unconfessed sin is unforgiven sin!
Can I just say church, family & friends, that the longer you hold onto your hurt, pain and disappointment, the longer you will be stuck in that season. Let go and let God!
For the feeling of negativity will infect your walk with God, but happy are those who find joy in every season of their lives! Conquerors endures!
But just as God turned Job, Naomi, Ruth, Joseph, David and so many other lives around, so we can’t expect Him to move us from one season to the next, with expectation of what He is about to do in us and through us.
Embrace your seasons, church … for there is a reason for every season in your life. (Yes it is so!) Amen?
Conclude: By saying to you all, “However long the night, or season, dawn will break, seasons will change, if we remain faithful to God and His purpose for our lives, amen?
Come let us pray!
