The Seasons of Life With God

The seasons of the year can reflect lessons of the spiritual seasons of our life walking with God.

As I write this, I notice the calendar reads Dec. 22, the day after the beginning of winter here in America. Although I was born in December, it is one of my least favorite months of the year. It is very dark when I leave and when I arrive home. The leaves have fallen, and there are no blooms in my garden except for the few scattered pansies that I planted.

How I long for the return of spring! I’m grateful that in my city snow does not last more than a few days. I don’t miss the snow that fell when I lived in a mid-Atlantic state with my family for eight long years in the ’90s.

The seasons of the year make me think of our calling into God’s Church. Each season can be compared with different phases of our walk with God.

Spring and the beginning of our walk

In the spring, the earth is beginning to thaw, the days are lengthening and the blooms are beginning to appear. This reminds me of being called to understand God’s truth. There is a spiritual awakening in us, and the coldness of this world begins to dissipate. We hear the Word of God; and like the early appearance of daffodils, we open up and embrace our newness of life (Mark 4:26-28).

There may be an occasional frost, but our Heavenly Gardener takes precautions to help us deal with the pulls of the life that we are leaving behind.

As the spring of life continues, we are establishing ourselves and are enjoying the nutrients found in God’s Word, the Bible.

Summer heat and trials

As the spring moves into the summer time, we become rooted and firmly planted through reading the Bible, praying, fasting, meditating, fellowshipping and learning from God’s ministers on God’s Sabbaths and festivals (Jeremiah 17:8). We have to continue to be careful during this time in our walk with God. We must not think we have it made.

During this season of the year there can be severe drought, thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes. These are the trials that are allowed to come our way. God can help carry us through our trials if we ask Him. We must seek His help to remove the entanglement of weeds that grow around us.

This is not the time to take it easy. It is a time of fervent praying for closeness to God, helping each other and serving. We can be comforted by warm breezes and good conditions for growth as God continues to show Himself to us. Our summers should produce fruit as we continue to grow.

Autumn colors and fruit

The summer days continue to shorten, bringing the days of autumn. The colors in the leaves turn from deep greens to vibrant reds, oranges and yellows in the bursts of cold autumn air. The fruits and crops come to full ripeness and are ready to harvest.

Through our faith, patience, changed lives, good words and right conduct, we also should produce vibrant colors and beautiful fruit (James 5:7). People around us know there is something different about us. They know we swim against the tides. They can see how we handle adversities in our lives with strength and courage, and they see our consistency and integrity.

As we admire the colors of the leaves and the bounty of the autumn harvest, God intends for our spiritual fruit and example to, in the time to come, help others to glorify God.

Winter

We’ve run the race, and we know that there is a crown of righteousness laid up for us. Life and God’s Spirit have humbled us. We take nothing for granted. We trust fully in God; and though we are not perfect, we can have confidence through the Scripture that whether we sleep or are changed in a twinkle of an eye, we will awaken again to the spring of a new life and hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Chant’a Collier fills her spare time with grandchildren, baking and gardening.

For more about growth and walking with God, see:

• Bearing Fruit
• How Does Your Garden Grow?
• How Healthy Is Your Soil?
• Feeling Alone? Consider a Walk