Why is it that we have times in our lives when we are growing and everything seems to flow well, then other times everything seems to dry up and die? We all go through life seasons. They are necessary for us to grow both emotionally and spiritually.

There are Life Seasons or periods of time that we all go through to bring us into spiritual maturity. Different than stages of maturity, life seasons are more situational. When you think of it, we don’t really grow during times of blessing and success. As we look back on the more difficult times, we can see that it is in those times that we grew the most. These are similar to the seasons of the year, but they can happen at any time in your life or on the calendar. You don’t have to go through them in any particular order.

Spring — A time of new growth. Change has happened recently and things are being renewed.

Summer — A time of fun and blessing. It’s like a mountain-top experience. We don’t usually grow during these times, and we cannot live there. But summer times keep us going.

Autumn — This is a transition time when things begin to dry up and die. Old habits and behaviors start fading away. It starts out looking pretty, but quickly changes. You are moving from one major season to another.

Winter — Everything is dormant and times are difficult. It is not easy to hear God or know the direction to go. This season is a test to strengthen your faith. This may also be known as a wilderness time.

Notice that many people in the Bible went through times of distress. Moses lived as a shepherd in the desert for forty years. David had to hide so that Saul would not kill him. Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for forty days. It is good to recognize the season you are in. Usually wilderness times are to get you out of your own agenda and into God’s desire for you. It is designed to change your focus to be more like God’s.

Most people think they need to stay in the wilderness or a difficult time. This is not true at all. God does not want you to suffer but He does want you to learn and mature. You can shorten this wilderness time by recognizing the lesson that God wants you to learn and responding appropriately.

Some seasons are unavoidable or out of your control. Going through a difficult time of loss for instance is out of your control. But how long you stay there can be within your control. Yes, grief is real and has to be dealt with and worked through. It is different for each person.

So what season of life are you in right now? What can you learn from your previous seasons? If you have been in a difficult time for a while, ask God to show you what the root is and get an exit strategy!

– Doug Addison
www.dougaddison.com
inLight Connection

Doug Addison is a prominent conference speaker captivating audiences with clean stand-up comedy and high energy prophetic messages which he has shared on television, radio and the internet for over a decade. Doug brings laughter, fun and a unique prophetic style while empowering people to transform their lives, discover their destiny and understand dreams, tattoos and piercings. His powerful messages stay with his audiences long after hearing him.