37. Embracing Your Season

Hi, and welcome back to the Walking Through Wilderness blogs! We started a new series last week, themed around the topic of seasons, and today, we’re going to look at the importance of embracing the season you are in.

I believe there is a special grace given to us by God for every season we go through in life. That ‘seasonal grace’ makes things that are usually difficult become easier. If we co-operate with Holy Spirit and partner with Him in whatever He is doing in our lives at that time instead of fighting it, we will find that, even if it’s a difficult season, it will not be as difficult as we had anticipated. 

I want to emphasise at this point that it’s not enough to just accept the season we’re in. We need to learn how to embrace it. 

Think of it like this: if it’s the middle of winter and you’re heading out for a family walk, you're not going to get dressed in your T shirt, shorts and flip flops, are you? You’re going to put your trousers, coat and boots on. You could, if you are of a mind to, go out scantily clad, declaring with great faith that you believe it’s summer, but there can only be one outcome of that scenario, and it’s not pretty!

Alternatively, in the middle of a sultry summer, if you go out dressed in your coat, woolly hat, scarf and boots, that could also be hazardous to your health. In the same way, no amount of faith declarations or prophetic acts will bring on a sunny summer season, if God has ordained that it’s time for an autumn or winter season in your life!

Let’s look at the children of Israel, and the ‘spiritual season change’ that they went through: moving from slavery into freedom. That was a massive change (actually it was an era or epoch change, not just a season change, but there isn’t time to go into these, so let’s just stick with season changes!) 

They had to learn a whole new way of life, adopt a totally new mindset, and learn a new set of skills in order to transition into their new lifestyles in the Sinai desert. Leaving behind their predictable yet painful lifestyle in Egypt, they had to take on the mindset of freedom, learning how to make decisions and plan for their future, instead of being subjugated to the mercy of their task masters. They had to learn the laws that God gave them to help them live righteous lives, and embrace a new lifestyle of worship in the Tabernacle.

Not only that but they were now sojourners, with no home or land of their own, so they had to learn the skills needed to survive in the desert. The Israelites had no choice but to embrace the wilderness season they had been catapulted into as the skills they had learnt in Egypt were, for the most part, fairly useless in the desert. In Egypt they had to learn how to make bricks and build various structures – in the wilderness they had to learn to make tents and portable furniture, and be able to pack it all up quickly when it was time to move on.

In Egypt they grew vegetables in their little vegetable gardens, and cooked with what they grew. In the wilderness they probably didn’t live in the same place long enough to grow anything of any long-lasting significance, so they had to learn how to make tasty meals with manna and quail, using a small selection of ingredients. In Egypt they knew where their water supply was – in the desert they had to depend on God to give them water and supply what they needed.

In Egypt they learnt the importance of staying out of trouble to avoid being beaten – in the wilderness they had to learn how to fight, and develop skills in the ways of warfare. In Egypt they learnt how to make bricks, but in the desert they learnt how to make weapons.

At the end of their 40-year sentence of wandering around the wilderness, they finally got to leave the life of a sojourner, and move into Canaan, the land of their inherence. And how did that momentous new season start? The manna which God had provided so faithfully every day for roughly 40 years, suddenly stopped. Can you imagine what that must have been like? Shock and horror!! No more manna? So what are we going to eat? The season of collecting manna each day was over. In this new season (or era), they would have to learn how to hunt, to cultivate and harvest the produce of the land.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out what I’m saying: don’t fight the season you’re in. Don’t fight it. Take it from me – it doesn’t work, I’ve tried … many times! Father God knows the balance of what we need in our lives, what is healthy for us, and what He is doing in our hearts and lives at any given time.

Instead, ask Him if there are any changes you need to make in your routine or schedule. Be practical, make the changes needed, if any are needed. Don’t keep doing the same things you did in the last season, do what THIS season needs. Sometimes you may need to lay down some things and take up something new. Sometimes you may need to lay down some things and not pick anything else up – if He is leading you into a season of rest, that can often happen.

I have found that many seasons come with a unique challenge, something that requires us to break through, which then, in turn, leads us into the next season He has prepared for us. Micah 2:13 talks about God being the One who breaks open the way, and goes before us. He is the Master of Breakthrough, and He brings with Him the anointing needed for that new season. Every new season requires some kind of change.

Be brave!

Be intentional! Embrace every season and claim every reward for the seasons on this incredible journey you are on!

So, if the days are short and the weather is cold, don’t put your T shirt and flip flops on, put your coat and gloves on, and go and make yourself a steaming hot drink!

And, if you’re in a wilderness season, embrace it!

Learn the lessons that God wants to teach you. Find out what skills you will need to learn to not only survive, but to thrive in that wilderness season, and hold your head up high, knowing that Holy Spirit is right there with you, your Guide, Teacher, Comforter and Helper, throughout the length of that season.

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Until next time ….

Hopefully you know what spiritual season you are walking through at the moment – if you don’t, it may be helpful to read my previous blog entitled ‘What’s With This Season Thing?’

Ask Holy Spirit to show you what He wants to teach you during this season.

Are there any new skills He wants you to develop?

Any new friendships He is prompting you to invest into?

Any changes to your daily routine (remember the Israelites’ sudden lack of manna!)

Nicky Heymans is an author of historical fiction who is known for drawing fresh life and inspiration out of familiar Bible stories. She would love to hear from you! Please feel free to share your thoughts or ask questions by scrolling down to the bottom of this page and clicking on the 'contact' link, and she will get back to you.