.png)
Yesterday as I was driving down a serene tree lined street, I was thinking about the end of the summer season and the transition into the fall season. The foliage will soon begin to change color, and nature will submit to this change. The green leaves will turn to shades of yellow, orange and some will become blazing red in autumn. Then the trees will become bare in the winter months as the weather pattern changes.
The Holy Spirit gave me this word about going through different seasons in our lives, and why it is so important to stay in the season that He has us in. Just like we can’t wear someone else’s mantle, we can’t compare our season to someone else's. Each of us are on a personal journey, and encounter different victories as well as trials. We need to embrace the journey and enjoy our unique seasons.
If the Lord has you in a winter season, you shouldn't try to birth something to bring it forth in a spring season. You can’t harvest apples off season or they could actually be bitter. They need to be fully matured in the fall before they are picked. If you are called to a particular ministry Gods timing is so important. This principle applies to any ministry that you are called to. If the Lord called you to something, it will come to pass but there is a timing.
If you are called to be a bible teacher, it is important to understand the doctrine that you are teaching. You need to study and attend a bible school that is Spirit filled and also teaches the uncompromised Word of God. You must also pray to discern the Holy Spirits voice and leading so that you could teach the students how to be led by the Holy Spirit. Pray in the Spirit at all times. You could not become effective if you are not filled with the Holy Spirit.
There is something that doctors call a “seasonal affective disorder” otherwise known as SAD. They say that it is a type of depression that people get during the winter. As Spirit filled believers, I don’t believe that we need to go through that, but I believe that we do go through winter seasons spiritually. There are times when we feel as if the Lord is so distant and His voice can’t be heard. We also go through wilderness seasons.
Jesus has a reason for bringing us through times of training and preparing us for what He called us to do. It can be a disaster to jump ahead of God and try to do things in our own. I heard a story one time about a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly, so o he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at an apple tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He said that you cannot judge a tree or a person by only one season and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, and the fulfillment of your fall. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don’t judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult times knowing that better times are on the way. Aspire to inspire before you expire.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.
Psalm 1:3
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 104:27
These all wait for You, That You may give them their food in due season.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Elaine Tavolacci
----------------------------------
Reg Now
