* The Waiting Room series *

This series unearths God's hidden treasures amidst uncertainty.

Spiritual Seasons - Part 1

Is it Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? Our surroundings give us clues. In Fall, the air temperature decreases and leaves turn vibrant colors. Neighbors transition from shorts and sandals to warmer apparel. Stores showcase Autumn merchandise. These are signs Summer has ended and Fall is underway. Based on our experience, we know approximately how long each season will last and the sequential order. Good news for non-techies, no phone app required.

There are also spiritual seasons. They often go unmentioned or get little attention. Therefore, we might not easily recognize or understand them. Thankfully, we can consult the Bible for clarity.

• Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT), “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”

• Philippians 2:12-13 (NLT), “… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

I think of spiritual seasons as time periods when God teaches us how to blossom into his radiant child. Often, they are times when we turn to God because our self-effort and solutions aren’t resolving the challenges we face. We may feel stuck, confused, exhausted, or lack direction. Self focused, we approach God with our agenda. However, his response may not seem relevant to our priorities. It’s in these moments we learn to follow his lead and trust him. His insights will always invite us to something greater. The outcome teeters on our willingness to relinquish control and accept his invitations. God gives us free will and never forces us to do anything. If we ignore his wisdom, we may remain stuck in that season. Conversely, heeding his guidance can shorten the duration of that season and help us move into the next one. Each season is crucial for equipping us to work out our salvation, so that we can fulfill our godly purposes and enjoy the full benefits of Kingdom living.

Here is a simplified example of a spiritual season. Your marriage and new business are both struggling. Despite your best efforts, things are declining rapidly. You are tired, frustrated, and don’t know what to do. You pray, asking God to help. Three months later, it seems like nothing has changed. Frustration and impatience prompt another reminder to God about your petitions. In response, he reminds you of a previous interaction with him. Six months ago, he highlighted how you destroy relationships with repeated outbursts of anger. You repented and wanted freedom. However, you’ve done nothing since then to alter that behavior. God knows that until you treat people with honor and respect, your marriage and business relationships will not end well. But you don’t recognize the correlation between unresolved anger and the unanswered prayer. You mistakenly blame God for not answering your prayers, when, in fact, your disobedience causes the delay. His desire is to prosper your marriage and business, but your self-destructive behavior postpones his blessings. His focus is on the bigger picture and trying to save you from heartache and disaster. He knows what must transpire in each season so that we can move forward on his unique path for us. The length of each season is proportional to the degree we cooperate with God’s refining.

The following questions will help jumpstart your interaction with God about your personal seasons. I bless you to hear him clearly and for his presence to engulf your soul.

• Ask God to reveal your current spiritual season.

• Seek God how you can work together with him to complete this season and graduate to the next one.

• Ask God for clarity on how your current spiritual season relates to your prayers.

• Scripture tells us that God intercedes for us. Ask him to explain how his prayers for you apply to your current and future spiritual seasons.

Spiritual Seasons Part - 2