How is your life right now? Freezing cold? Blazing hot? Is the sun shining, and are the birds beautifully singing their songs of Creation outside? Or are the tempestuous winds of ravenous circumstances and fiery trials raging against you? Are you light or burdened? Are you strong or weak? Are you thriving or struggling? Are you on the mountaintop that we call victory, or are you in the valley that we face in defeat? I ask these questions for two reasons: first, everyone is somewhere in the midst of that list, and second, wherever you are at, that is why I introduce to you, Seasons.
{1 Peter 4:12}
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Meaning: Times
What exactly are seasons? Have you ever thought about that?
Merriam-Webster gives a handful of definitions, the first being, “a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature.” In Ecclesiastes 3, King Solomon lays out a wonderful manifest of a myriad of “seasons” that we face throughout the course of our lives. When he introduces this concept of different seasons, he defines the seasons as, “a time to every purpose under heaven.” In simplest terms, a season can be understood as a period or segment of time.
We understand this in our culture because we are used to a typical four-season rotation throughout the year. Each season brings with it its positives and negatives. Summer brings wonderful sunshine and family time but also heat and sunburns. Autumn holds a glorious array of color schemes but introduces the fierce winds and beginning of the cold months. Winter consists of beautiful snow, warm fires, and sometimes even school cancellations {amen}; while also possessing icy roads, and threatening blizzards. Lastly, Spring carries wonderful temperatures and captivating flowers, yet also plagues many with allergies. All seasons have their ups, and all seasons have their downs. Perspective makes all the difference.
{Ecclesiastes 3:1}
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Duration: Temporality
The honest truth about seasons in our lives is that they are not just times, but limited times. They come to an end. They don’t last forever. Yes, I’m talking to you. You who are at your wits end. You who cannot hold on any longer. But I am also talking to you! You who think the bliss of ease will last forever. It won’t, it is only temporary. You see, this is the beauty of the seasons in our lives; they come, and they go. Each one bringing with it a lesson and a growth opportunity to prepare us for the next one.
This principle of temporality is backed up in the book of 1 Peter. In case you are unfamiliar with the book, Peter is writing to a region that we would call Turkey in modern times. The Christians in that region did not have a local church to safely meet at because they were under heavy persecution and “manifold temptations” from the Roman government. They were running for their lives because of their faith. It is in verse six that we see this seasonal principle introduced. Peter encourages these suffering believers that they are “in heaviness through manifold temptations,” but that it is only “for a season.” This is encouraging language to the believer who may be hurting and struggling. It will not last forever. It is only for a limited time.
{1 Peter 1:6-9}
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Result: Triumph
Not to be over-zealous, but for the Christian, even if our suffering never ceases in this life, we know that there is a day of unparalleled triumph awaiting us. I don’t think I can say it any better than the classic hymn writer, Jim Hill:
“There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There’ll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.”
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I pray this has been a small dose of encouragement for your day. I hope that this has given you an adequate appetite for what will come and be seen from Seasons. Thank you for taking the time to read. I love you all and God is good.
Until we write again…..
In, for, and because of Christ,
V.S. See
References:
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/season
- https://namethathymn.com/christian-hymns/what-a-day-that-will-be-lyrics.html