Poets have long used the seasons as metaphors for our lives. Spring is seen as a time of new beginnings and potential; summer is a time of growth and success; autumn is the harvest season when we reap the fruits of our labors; and winter is a time of endings and rest.
As the harvest season, autumn is a time of productivity—but also of completion and transition. Once the crop has been sent to market, a farmer rests and then plants something new. In this sense, the autumn metaphor has something powerful to ask us about our callings and careers: Is the work we’re doing still productive? Is our ministry or project still bearing fruit? Has the season changed and is our work now complete? Is it time to transition to something new?
The writers of the Bible possessed a profound sense of life’s seasons. Ecclesiastes describes there being a season to be born and to die, to mourn and to dance, to be quiet and to speak, among others (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9). God arranged a specific time for Sarah to conceive Isaac (Genesis 18:10). Esther was made queen for “such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Jesus knew when His time had come and when it hadn’t (John 2:4, 17:1). God has tasks for us to do and special seasons for us to do them in.
I once stayed in a job 2 years longer than I should have. The season had changed, but I wasn’t moving with it. In comparison, a friend of mine recently left a ministry role in which he’d been very successful. But he sensed from God that his work there was done.
I like autumn. As summer’s light dims and the leaves begin to fall, I like its reminder that with God there are seasons of productivity and harvest, but also of completion and transition.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 27:1-10
More:
Read Proverbs 16:9 and Psalm 31:15 to see how God is involved in the seasons of our lives.
Next:
What season of life are you in right now? Where might God be nudging you to change or make a move?
Gary Shultz on September 23, 2016 at 6:12 am
Perplexing Sheridan, but yet in the post you offer points, we can and should know the season or times we find ourselves. To measure one self, understand how we have been gifted or for that matter limited, and seek God’s face to find the wisdom of our duty. I do agree, to be in the right “season” God has for us is to serve purpose itself. “Seasons” do seem to be different, some by function, some by new calls to serve in capacities never considered. I believe time, age, and life itself can and will be circumstantial to the call, but we have seen God is not limited nor compromised by anything. So, I thank God for the large measure of grace He has supplied and look to His face for further instruction and guidance. The in sync link. Thanks Sheridan
gagirllive on September 23, 2016 at 7:43 am
Love this, Sheridan. Yesterday was the first day of autumn, and though these Georgia temperatures haven’t quite complied with that transition yet, I’m thankful to see another season come to a close and a new one begin. It is fascinating to see how much the seasons in nature run parallel to our own lives throughout our earthly journey. I suppose I am in autumn. I’m in my fifties; my children are all young adults; I just retired from my job last winter, and I’m enjoying the ministries in which I serve in both my church and my community. It is a time of completion and transition as well as productivity and harvest for me. My prayer has been that this new season of life will be a fruitful one—that I will find myself being productive rather than busy. God has been so faithful in answering that prayer. However, it hasn’t been easy to let go of all that is behind me now and embrace the new roles of my life. As I grow older and see my life changing, I am so comforted by the fact that God is there in every season. And until He calls me home, I trust that He still has use of me in every season. I found a word of encouragement in Psalm 92: 13-14 the other day which says, “Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” I like that. I only have autumn and winter left in my life, but these verses remind me that they can be my best seasons yet because of where I am planted. Thanks for bringing us this good word today, Sheridan. A blessed weekend to all.
jef on September 23, 2016 at 1:58 pm
Amen! Productivity rather than busyness in all life seasons,
gagirllive on September 23, 2016 at 2:32 pm
Yes sir, jef! I learned a long time ago that there is a difference! 🙂
Tom Felten on September 23, 2016 at 10:15 am
I love autumn. In my corner of creation, it’s filled with sights like trees aflame with brilliant colors, deep blue skies, and piles of orange pumpkins. The sounds includes the crackling of campfires and honking of geese as they fly overhead in their familiar V formation—heading south for warmer climes. In my life, I find autumn to be a more peaceful, focused time so far. I truly enjoyed the busyness, spontaneity, and growth found in spring and summer—but this season of life has brought greater focus of calling for me. Praying for each of you in the ODJ community, that—regardless of the season you find yourself in—you’ll experience an ever-increasing love for Jesus and the joy and peace found in Him.
gagirllive on September 23, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Autumn is indeed a beautiful season, Tom, and you have made it palpable in your wonderful description here. It’s still quite hot in my neck of the woods, but I look forward to nights by the campfire, most likely in November.
kauai143 on September 23, 2016 at 10:27 am
Beautiful Sheridan! A wonderful reminder of how God will order our lives just as he does the seasons. He is a good God and I’m so thankful that just as Winter doesn’t last forever, neither do trials!
gagirllive on September 23, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Amen, kauai143! Your comment reminds me of the line about Narnia—how it’s always winter but never Christmas. Praise God our “Aslan” has changed that for us!
minkjh on September 23, 2016 at 10:35 am
Sheridan, you give us much to ponder here in light of your comment ‘God has tasks for us to do and special seasons for us to do them in’. What we’re not privy to is what season of life God decrees will be our last on earth. I’ve known some saints who were granted extraordinary length of days and humbly served to the very end by keeping their eyes fixed on Christ, while others replaced their faith with worldly pursuits and finished life with sorrow and regret. Then there are those like Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian whose lives though eclipsed at the portal of their summers, left an enduring legacy not constrained by seasonal bounds. For a world daily spinning out of control, Paul’s admonition to redeem the time is so important for us today.
And gagirllive, take heart. I’m told that fifty is the new summer, so you’ve got lots of fair weather coming your way!
gagirllive on September 23, 2016 at 11:29 am
LOL…Thank you, minkjh. 50’s is the new summer, huh? Well, I’ll receive that word from you, brother. 🙂 (You are brother and not sister, right? I’ve made wrong assumptions on this forum in the past about this, so please excuse me if I’m in error. You do “sound” male to me!)
minkjh on September 23, 2016 at 1:06 pm
Correct.
youssef1777 on September 23, 2016 at 11:08 am
GOD SEND HIS SON TO SAVE US . THANK YOU MY LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR SAVE MY SOUL . I LOVE YOU MY LORD AND SAVIOR .
youssef1777 on September 23, 2016 at 11:14 am
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SHADE HIS BLOOD AND DEEP GREAT PAIN IN THE CROSS . TO SAVE US . HE IS ABLE TO FORGIVE US . IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS . THANK YOU LORD .
sim jing ying on September 23, 2016 at 11:32 am
At the moment, I’m in the season of summer, there’s nothing that God wants me to change or move on.
jef on September 23, 2016 at 1:46 pm
God sees and knows everything entirely within our time capsule, thus all of our ambitions hopes and plans are safe in His divine will.