I can clearly remember learning about seasons in Elementary school. Fall, winter, spring, and summer were the four seasons I was taught. Right now we are on the heels of spring and I cannot wait to see the flowers bloom, feel the warmer temperatures, and see the beautiful colors that come along with the changing season.
As an adult, I now find myself learning again about seasons. From sermons to songs, everyone is talking about seasons and how to recognize what season you are in. This was hard for me to comprehend. I failed to understand that the storms, depression, anger, brokenness, and struggle were only for a season.
While I was going through these many different things, I could not see the end of one season and the beginning of a new one. There was one season that I never thought would change and that was the season of death and grief. My father passed in 2010 and then in 2012, I lost my closest aunt, my grandmother, and then my brother. I couldn’t see past my tears. I was hurt, angry, and confused because I felt like everyone I loved was leaving me. I was not anticipating the change of my season of bereavement because it lasted so long.
Toward the end of that season, God reminded me of this scripture, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8,
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” (KJV)
To every THING, there is a season!
To every heartache, heartbreak, storm, disease, debt, assignment, loss, harvest, and all else, there is a season.
That season of grief passed, and now I am in a season of pure joy. There are many things blooming in my life now and I am at peace with knowing my loved ones are at the feet of my Father.
Seasons come and go, just like the natural seasons change. No one season last always. If you are in a season where you have no bae or boo, know that it is only a season. That season will change once God introduces you to the one that will be your spouse. Anticipate the changing season. If you are in a season of debt, remind yourself that there is a season coming when you will reap but sow while you wait in expectation of things to change.
God doesn’t use seasons to punish us. He uses them to grow and mature us. Our seasons are our testimonies to share and help others recognize that their seasons will change. No matter what season you are in, keep trusting God and anticipate your new season.
Deborah Woolard is a single mother of three from Raleigh, NC and she currently resides in Charlotte, NC. She is an ordained & licensed minister and she serves as the Youth Director at R5 Church. Her love for writing, especially poetry is one of the many ways God allows her to use her gifts for His glory. Her poetry can be viewed at https://m.facebook.com/gracefullydsignedbydeborah/.