38. Understanding the Times

This week, we’re going to continue looking at the subject of spiritual seasons, and specifically the question often asked: “Why do I need to know what season I’m in.” Simply put, the answer to that question is so that we can partner with Holy Spirit. But let’s delve a bit deeper.

A well-known and often quoted scripture when discussing seasons is 1 Chron 12:32 – “…the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do..” This scripture tells us about a group of men from the tribe of Issachar, one of the 12 tribes of Israel. The Bible states that they had “understanding of the times” and, because they understood the times, they “knew what Israel ought to do”. These men of the tribe of Issachar understood what God was doing in their nation. They knew that David was called to be King. They recognised that a change of government was coming, a potentially messy transition from the reign of King Saul to the reign of a new and rather radical king, David. Because these men from the tribe of  Issachar understood that, they aligned themselves with David.

That principle still holds true for us today because, once you understand the time or season you’re in, you can then ask Holy Spirit for input on ‘what you ought to do’. It’s all about partnering with Him. Holy Spirit is very strategic, and He will help you put plans in place and show you how to implement them – but we have to work with Him and listen to Him in order for that to happen.

Just imagine for a moment, dancers taking to the floor with their partners. The music starts, and the woman stretches her arms out to her partner to begin a waltz, but instead of grasping her hand and pulling her close, he moves back and starts moving his body one way and the other, dancing a salsa. If one is trying to waltz and the other is doing a salsa, it’s not going to work, it’s just going to get really messy.

Our lives are made up of a steady progression of changes. Isaiah 43:19 says, “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not be aware of it?” Father is always at work in our lives. Always. He frequently does a ‘new thing’ among us in one way or another, because He’s always taking us from glory to glory. He never leaves us to stagnate. That’s why it’s important for us to understand and be aware of what season we are in, and what ‘new thing’ God is doing, so we can partner with Holy Spirit in that season.

It’s also important to understand that every season takes the time needed, and we shouldn’t try to rush it – we must let that season run its course.

Thinking about seasons from an agricultural perspective, we know that you don’t get a harvest until you go through the other seasons. You HAVE to plough, plant seed, wait and weed and water first and then, after some time, you reap the harvest. I believe a lot of people don’t get to reap their spiritual harvest, and don’t get the reward for their season, because they give up during one of the previous stages. Rushing through a season in order to get to the next one just causes problems. We must learn not to be in such a hurry!  

We see if often in parenting. Parents can’t wait until their kids get out of nappies and, in time, the child grows out of nappies and into ‘big boy’ pants. However, in the process of growing up and learning how to control their bodily functions, they naturally have ‘accidents’ and make even more mess than before, except now it’s not contained in a nappy, it’s all over the floor or in their bed or the neighbour’s carpets!

Some mums and dads can’t wait for the time when their little one is able to walk on their own so they don’t have to carry them everywhere or take a buggy and all the baby paraphernalia with them. In the course of time, little Johnny does start to walk, but inevitably wants to walk everywhere, so it takes even longer to get anywhere because they now have to go at little Johnny’s pace, and train him how to stay with them and not go ‘walk about’. Walking also means that Johnny is able to get into all sorts of places that he shouldn’t get into! 

What about the parents who are weary of making bottles of milk and feed their baby countless times a day? When their baby grows older and starts feeding themselves, there is such joy and jubilation …until he starts to throw food on the floor or rub mashed up food into the furniture, the dog, and his hair. How about the exhausted mother who can’t wait for the day when little Johnny goes to school…. and so the cycle continues. For some parents, this cycle continues until the child has grown up and left home and, sadly, sometimes it is only then that they realise how much they have missed out on.

We must learn to embrace the season we’re in right now, and not rush it, because we will never get that time back. It’s too easy to wish today away. Being present in the moment is such an important discipline – and it is a discipline, because in this frantic, performance-oriented world that we live in, it’s too easy to get swept up in the momentum of ‘going places’ or ‘making it happen’. Sometimes we need to sit down and just be where we’re at.

God is not in a hurry. He is never in a hurry! So, you might as well settle down and embrace the season you’re in, because it’s not going to be over until it’s over!

If you are in a hard season, it WILL CHANGE. It may take a while, but it WILL change. Winter cannot last forever – spring will come, even in Narnia! (I love the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe books and films). That Narnian winter was a loooong one, but the spring DID come eventually, and it was worth the wait!

It will be for you, too.

Until next time ...

Ask yourself the question, ‘Am I embracing this season, or just tolerating it?’

If you feel you’re not embracing the season you’re in, pray and ask God to help you. 

Ask Him to give you patience, and each time you feel yourself struggling, pray. If it is helpful, you could pray: ‘Father, thank you that my times are in Your hands. Thank you that You can make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Help me to embrace this season I’m in. Help me to trust You.’

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.