What season are you in?

Do any of the following life seasons resonate with you right now?

For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest…
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace.

(Portions of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NLT)

The truth is, seasons of joy are easy to accept. In fact, we don’t want them to end.

It’s those other difficult seasons that are tough to swallow. The ones that leave us wondering:

• How did I get here? Did I do something wrong?
• Isn’t it God’s will for me to prosper?
• Why are there so many difficulties in my life?
• Am I meant to stay in this season forever? Or do I fight to enter the next one?

But Wait! Before We Go Any Further…

Before you discover why it’s important to accept the season you’re in, you need to know what I mean by “acceptance.”

What is Healthy “Acceptance” of Life Seasons?

Acceptance of life seasons is not defeatism or hopeless resignation. We’re not meant to throw up our hands and say, “Well, this is my cruddy lot. I may as well wallow in it.”

Healthy acceptance of life seasons says, “This season is difficult, but I know that God can work it for my good.” Healthy acceptance trusts God, regardless of life’s circumstances.

Alright. Now that we’ve got that clarified, we can move forward…

In the weeks to come, I’ll share more anecdotes, lessons, and tips I’ve learned about healthy acceptance. But for today, I’m going to let God (mostly) speak for himself on the subject of life seasons.

3 Biblical Reasons to Accept the Life Season You’re In

1.      The Season You’re In is No Accident

When push comes to shove, I choose to believe the Word of God. And the Bible says that – no matter whether my life season feels good or bad – God is still in control.

• “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17 NIV)
• “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21 NIV)
• See also Ephesians 1:11 NIV and (Psalm 31:14-15a NIV).

Whether or not you understand what on earth He’s doing in your life, God is still in control. This season you’re in is no accident. 

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2.      God Promised Both Good and Adversity

I prefer Bible verses that predict a beautiful future and a clear path, don’t you? Encouraging verses like:

• “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.“ (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)
• See also (Proverbs 16:4a NIV) and (Philippians 4:13 NLT).

Oh, yes! These verses are great at boosting my confidence that the future is bright!

But you know what I’ve noticed about myself when I focus only on the positive-vibe verses?

I end up feeling discontented with the season of life I’m, thinking there must be something wrong with my faith, or that my behaviour is “blocking” the wonderful future God promised me. I become disillusioned because I entirely forget about all the other verses in the Bible that foretell the adversity that I’m certain to encounter here on earth. Sobering verses like:

• “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
• “’Should we accept only good from God and not adversity?‘ Throughout all this Job did not sin in what he said.” (Job 2:10 HCSB)
• See also (Isaiah 45:7 NIV) and (Hebrews 12:6 NIV).

Expecting an easy life will only leave you disillusioned. Accepting each life season as it comes – both the joy-filled and the sorrow-filled – will allow you to experience peace and trust in God, whose ways are always perfect.

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3.      Your Current Season Is Not a Waste of Time

Do you ever cringe when someone quotes you back to yourself? “Don’t worry. Nothing is wasted.” That’s what I told my friend years ago when she felt frustrated in her season of life. Lo and behold, she’s reminded me a few times since then of my own words.

I know it’s true, but it’s hard to believe at times, isn’t it?

Here are four comforting verses to remind us that when we love God and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us through each season, nothing we experience is wasted:

• “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” (Romans 8:28 AMP)
• “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].“ (1 Corinthians 15:58 AMP)
• See also (James 1:2-4 CEB) and (John 14:26 ESV).

Your current circumstances are not a waste of time. Each life season helps us to grow, and God is able to work each one according to his plan for us.

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Where Do We Go from Here?

Knowing we need to accept our current season of life is different than living out that acceptance.

So, how can we learn to accept the season we’re in without living in defeatism?

I have learned how to be content in any circumstance. I know the experience of being in need and of having more than enough; I have learned the secret to being content in any and every circumstance, whether full or hungry or whether having plenty or being poor. I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11b-13 CEB

Jesus! Jesus is the answer. (Isn’t He always?) And although the answer is simple, living out this truth isn’t always simple, or easy.

In the weeks to come, I’ll be sharing a lot about acceptance, phases of spiritual growth, and the seasons of motherhood.  

I’m especially looking forward to learning with you about how to survive, thrive in, be gracious to yourself in, persevere through, and hopefully enjoy the season of motherhood.

In the meantime, check out this week’s challenge:

This Week’s Challenge

• Pick one verse listed in this article and memorize it. (I dare you to pick one that’s not so “rosy.” Who knows? It may be exactly the verse you need one day.)
• Not keen on memorization? Just meditate on it. Read it through a couple times a day and think about it. Ask God to reveal to you what he wants you to know from that verse.

Or,

• Read either Job (long option) or Habakkuk (short option) from start to finish. Notice how, even though they both felt their circumstances were somewhat unfair, they both came to the same conclusion: God is worthy of praise in the good times and the bad.  

Let’s Pray Together

Dear Father God, we confess that we often evaluate the seasons of our lives through our human perspectives and that we rely on our own understanding of circumstances rather than relying on you. You’re God; we’re not. Please forgive us for not trusting you in every circumstance.

Holy Spirit, bless us with hearts that believe you’re still in control.

Lord Jesus, help us to follow you willingly, regardless of the path you choose for us. Whether we deem the path ahead good or bad, only you know the outcome. Help us to find peace and joy in whatever season we’re in today. Amen.

With love,

Scripture references in today’s blog post were taken from:

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188, USA. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.