Seasons in Community

 

Ecc. 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time.”  (Amp.)

God uses the natural creation to teach us about the ebb and flow of seasons in our lives. We usually think of seasons as being personal, unique to ourselves but, in any church, at any given time, many seasons will be represented. It helps to not only discern our own season, but the seasons of others.

We wonder, why doesn’t God just bring us out of this season? We tend to think it’s just about us, but often it is not. We are not the only one on the planet that God is working in. Our life may be a part of God’s purpose in others. A common example is a woman feeling that her life is on hold while God is working on things in her husband’s heart. Or a mother suffering grief because of her children’s problems, while God is drawing them and working in their season, in His time.

Everyone is in their own unique season. It may be that churches and ministries have their seasons too. Perhaps, while you wait for direction, God is at work to provide a place and need for your particular giftings. As the body of Christ moves more and more into the time of harvest, no doubt we will see our individual seasons shift too.

We can help others discern their season by:      

·     --  Honestly sharing our personal experiences. Hearing that someone else has “been there” offers comfort.

·       --Listening!

·      -- Not pressuring them to conform to expectations of others

·       --Operating in the gifts of the Spirit to give insight and healing

We can support another in their season by:

·       --Not judging or comparing

·       --Walking alongside in prayer and friendship

·      -- Offering compassion and understanding

 Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.”

It is often easier to weep with those who weep than to rejoice with those whose season is more joyful than mine.                                                                                           

Proverbs 15:23 “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word spoken in due season, how good it is.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 “Now, there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons, but to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

 Questions to ponder, pray, share:

·       --Have you been left waiting in a season while God was working in someone else’s life?

·      -- How might the Holy Spirit use a gift of the Spirit to help you understand your season?

·      -- Do you have fellowship that offers the opportunity for honest sharing? If not, ask God to point you to those you can trust.