Tag: mature

How to navigate the seasons of time.

scenic view of the forest during sunrise

What type of season are you in and how do you traverse through it? How, do we know when a season begins and ends? I have always related seasons to the four seasons of nature. But recently I came across a short reel on Facebook and the young preacher mentioned twenty-eight seasons found in Ecclesiastes. Which was a ‘oh yea’ moment because I have talked about the time to weep and time to laugh, I guess I never really thought about them as seasons.

What is a season? It is a period of a specific time in life. Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Throughout our life seasons change, and we look at the time periods based on the good and bad that happens. But if we judge each season by our own understanding, we can miss the goodness of God in the season of change we are in. Most people do not like unexpected change. It is one thing to choose to change and another to have it thrust on us.

Ecclesiastes 3: 2-8 “A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; 3) A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5) A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6) A time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7) A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8) A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.”

No matter the time and season we are in we can be assured as God’s children He will direct our paths. Even when we do not understand what is happening and cannot answer the whys and why nots God is still in it with us. Recognizing the season, we are in is helpful to staying in peace when we have unanswered questions. God does not always tell us all the whys because then we would not have to trust Him.

Life does go through seasons the way we navigate seasons can help us or hinder us.  The first thing to do is put your trust in Jesus, he will not leave you nor forsake you. Trusting God means you are relying on Him for your life and for His direction. It does not mean you do not do anything it means your surrendering your decisions to Him and trusting His word to lead and guide you. Trusting God means I let go of worrying about the outcome. I let go of trying to figure out what I cannot humanly know. 

The second thing in navigating through seasons of life is having patience.  That is not an excuse to do nothing it means having a good disposition while you wait. Within the scripture passage in Ecclesiastes there are good seasons which we all enjoy.  They also need navigating because seasons change so enjoying, saving and building through it helps us to be prepared when the season changes.

Patience is one of those words no one likes to hear but it is so necessary to growth. We will not become mature without it. Let patience work in you a good disposition as you wait because Christlikeness is being developed within you.

I asked how we know when a season begins and ends.  That is a hard question to answer because it is different for each one of us. A season can be a long or brief period. The end of a season is factored by God and how we grow through what we are going through. God does not cause the terrible things that happen we live in a fallen world, but we can trust in His Sovereignty and care as we go through each season, we are in.

No matter what season you are in you can be assured God will go through it with you.

Three Things to Know About Detour’s

Well, it is that time of year in the U.S. for road construction, it’s not a bad thing because our roads need it, but it can be inconvenient. I was on my way to get my hair done and the road I usually take is closed so I had to take a detour. As I was travelling out of my way because of the detour I thought of life and how we plan our destinations and sometimes in life there are detours to our plans. It does not mean you won’t get there it just may be not the road or time you choose. Sometimes roads close and there is not a detour sign, so you must make a detour for yourself. Life is like that too but how you look and think about it does affect the course you take.

glowing signboard with inscription placed on city road in evening time

take a detour

How we manage those detours in life decides what we do in the meantime. One thing to know about life’s detours or even a construction detour is there usually not convenient. They also can catch us by surprise. And they may add extra time to the travel.

First thing to know about detours is our attitude affects us. You may be one who is not happy when delayed and it affects you, but patience is a good fruit for all of us to walk in. So, I recommend taking a deep breath and following the signs. God’s word tells us in James that when patience has its full work, we become mature and complete. James 1:4 “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The second thing to know about detours is being flexible. When we become rigid in our thinking or plans, we can lose out on the unexpected blessings in the detour of life. It is a good thing to be pliable in the hands of God. Sometimes delays and detours shape our character as we go with the obstacles and make the best of it. Although we don’t like everything changing, change can be a good.  

The third thing to know about the detours in life is to trust God in helping you to go through that detour. Some detours are longer than others. Short detours are a little easier to deal with but the longer the detour hang on to the Lord, seek His peace and presence. He knows what is ahead and will bring you through.

What is the Maturity Factor?

How do we develop maturity in our lives? What does it look, sound and feel like? Sometimes we think we are mature and then life throws curve ball on us and we realize we lack patience in our situation. You can tell where you’re at by your responses, although sometimes we respond correctly, we may still carry it internally. God knows what is in our hearts. We do not always sense where we are at because our own hearts can deceive us.

In the bible James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trails, 3-knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4-But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The NIV states, “4-let the perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

How important is maturity to you? It’s important to God or he wouldn’t be perfecting us through patience. Trials come and go it’s something we all face. How we develop through it all depends on us. Here are three ways people face trials, delays or setbacks:

One way is to get upset, complain and grumble. Obviously, this is not the best way to handle life’s situations. It only makes you anxious and grumpy towards others and life in general. Will it produce anything to happen quicker? The answer is no it will not. Truthfully the more aggravated you get it feels like the trial will never end. When we speak the complaint out loud, we are producing with our own word’s negativity over our situations and life. Complaining brings you down mentally and emotionally. Yes, we can talk about the bad and discuss it to deal with our problems but complaining is not just discussing a situation. It takes on a self-pity attitude that if done enough will cause your mind and emotions to lean towards the negative. When we complain too much, we can become self-righteous without realizing we are doing it. The bible tells us to think on good things, things that are pure, lovely, and of a good report. I speak the word of God over my situations it produces faith and reminds me who is in control. God is for us when we are His child lean on Him and trust Him through any delays.

Another way to face it is avoidance. Pretend nothing is wrong just pretend life is good and repress your emotions. This causes internal emotional side effects. When we repress our emotions and thoughts etc. it doesn’t go away it goes down deep into our subconscious. You may think it’s gone but no it’s not it’s just hiding out till the day it explodes. If your responses become sudden outbursts, it’s a sign you have repressed something such as hurts, unforgiveness, resentments, bitterness etc. Traumas and hurts that have not been dealt with through healing will result in us having inner emotional, mental and physical problems of some type. The good news is that Jesus died for our life spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. There is hope!

The third way to handle trials, situations or delays is to go to God with them. Prayerfully read the Word of God and mediate on it. Process the frustrations, pains, hurts or delays through the guidance of The Holy Spirit. God is always working to make us whole, healed and healthy. Yes, He uses the trials we face. All our trials are not wasted but when you’re leaning on the grace of God as you go through it you will end up better off than when it started. No matter what you are faced with God wants to get through it with you and then use it for the development of your maturity.  

The maturity factor is God working within you to develop into a mature and complete person.