In the Old Testament, Joshua 1:8(NLT), God told His servant and leader of His people, Joshua, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” This verse had been especially important to Ben’s grandfather, and it had become a source of inspiration for Ben as well. His grandfather learned to read late in life and reading the Bible from cover to cover had always been his dream. This verse was a promise his grandfather held so closely to his heart, and his dream for Ben was that he would love God’s Word as much as he did. He taught his grandson that following God’s wisdom was the way to prosper in life. Ben saw this for himself. He’s witnessed God’s amazing grace in his young life, and at twenty-two, he’s well on his way to becoming the engineer his family dreamed he’d be, but he is also making some mistakes.
In the past, no matter what, Ben has never allowed anything to interfere with his commitment to God. Rarely has he ever missed service or Bible Study, and even with his part-time jobs, his supervisors know not to schedule him for work during those times. His trust has been firmly planted in the Lord but now in his life, a lot of things are hitting all at once. He lost his grandfather, who had always been a stabilizing and strong presence in his life. He’s struggling in a class he needs to graduate, and his girlfriend of three years wants to end things because of his hectic schedule. On top of all that, he’s facing the likely possibility of having to move away from his family for a new job. The order and stability he’s grown accustomed to is slipping away. Things feel unpredictable, and he feels that things in his life are getting out of control.
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, all of us will endure seasons where nothing seems to go the way we expect. Sometimes, this season brings disappointment and sadness, but we can be sure that it will always yield spiritual growth in Christ. It will bring a set of situations and circumstances that cause us to discover something new about Heavenly Father and His love for us, and it will also anchor us in our completeness and wholeness in Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, we forget that we are works-in-progress. Jesus Christ said in John 16:13(NLT), “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, and he comes to live inside our human-spirit when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit has an occupation, and part of his occupation is to guide us into all truth. Right now, even though we are born-again and Spirit-filled, we are not conscious of all truth. We have to be led to it. There is a huge amount of knowledge about Jesus Christ and about where he is taking us that we simply do not know. We must be led by the Holy Spirit because he is the One that will guide us into all truth.
As we endure seasons of change, this will become abundantly clear to us. We will recognize that we’re traveling in uncharted waters, and it may feel like we’re out there just floating without any clue about directions, but this is the place where our faith in God gets a workout. It’s the place where the rubber meets the road, and we have no other choice but to lean completely on the Father.
In Colossians 1:9-12 (NLT), the Apostle Paul prayed a prayer for the believers living in the city of Colosse. He wrote, “9 We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.”
This prayer is powerful, and it is so awesomely important because not only do we forget to pray about these crucial aspects of the believer’s walk, but we forget that God requires us to grow in faith so that we continually go higher in Christ. This prayer also reminds us that although we may have a plan all mapped out for our lives, we need to pray for a complete knowledge of God’s plan and Will. We need to pray for wisdom and understanding about His purpose. So, as the puzzle pieces scramble to get into their appointed places, we must not abandon our faith, and most importantly, we must prioritize our relationship with God and keep Him number one in all that we do.
Although it may not be comfortable, do not underestimate the importance of the season you’re in. Make sure you are getting everything out of it that you possibly can. It’s not a time for you to panic or worry. It’s a time for you to grow in Christ and increase in faith. Don’t let this season slip by without you squeezing out of it every drop of wisdom and knowledge about God and life. Get it all, because the next level of growth, blessings, and rewards will require it. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Importance of the Season You’re in”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2023. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.