4 Ways to Thrive in Every Season of Life
There is a particular ache that comes with the changes in seasons, even the good kind. Our children grow up and leave, and the house feels too quiet. You leave a job and it feels like you leave some of your identity with it. A friendship changes, and you grieve something that is difficult to put your finger on. Life moves in seasons, and the transitions can catch us off guard.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Seasons change. And sometimes it feels like we are barely holding on.
How do we keep up? How do we navigate the constant change and thrive in every season of life? How can we honour God in each season and make the most of the opportunities each season brings?
Here are four keys to help us navigate life’s changes and walk with God through every season of life:
1. Celebrate the Joys
Every season has its joys. There are reasons to celebrate and find joy in each and every season of our lives. I remember when my youngest child finished breastfeeding. After three children in quick succession, I breastfed for the best part of four and a half years. And then it finished. As grief threatened to engulf my mother heart, I had a choice to make. I could focus on the loss or find a reason to celebrate. And I chose the latter. I remember the trip to the department store to replace all my sensible nursing bras with pretty new ones. I found a simple way to celebrate the joy of the next season.
2. Give Grace in the Transitions
Be patient with yourself and those around you during times of transition. Life throws big changes at us, and the adjustment takes time. Even seasons we look forward to can be difficult to navigate at first.
I remember the transition from having toddlers at home to the busyness of the school years, and the constant renegotiation as they grew to be more independent. I remember my kids learning to drive, and then getting jobs and going off with their friends. We had to learn how to let go of control and trust them to make good choices for themselves. I remember the quiet when they each left to pursue their own lives. I loved seeing my children grow up, but each new stage had changes to navigate. And the transitions weren’t always smooth and easy. And that’s okay.
3. Keep Growing and Learning
Each new season brings opportunities for learning and growth. We shouldn’t stay the same from one season to the next. Babies learn to walk. Children learn to read. Teenagers learn to drive. And as adults, we continue to learn and grow.
There comes a point where we can be tempted to stop learning. Learning new skills is hard work, I get it. But when we stop learning, we get stuck. Stuck cooking the same old meals, talking to the same friends about the same topics, doing the same thing the same way, until we die.
And there is no excuse to stop learning. Content has never been more accessible: podcasts, books, online courses, even university lectures. There is no shortage of ways to keep learning. There is a big, wide world to embrace when we are open to learning and growing in every season of life.
4. Journey with God in Every Season
We serve a God who is with us in every season.
One of my favourite verses is Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
When Moses died and God transitioned the leadership to Joshua, this was his command. To be strong and courageous. Not to be afraid or discouraged. Why? Because God promised to be with him every step of the way. God is with us wherever we go. And that is a great comfort. No matter what season we are in, we can be assured that God is with us, and we can seek Him and enjoy Him in every stage of our lives.
My faith looks very different in this season, as a mid-fifties empty nester, than it has in any other season of my life. My devotional time looks different, my prayer life looks different, my ministry life is different. But God is the same. And experiencing how He has worked in all the different seasons of my life so far is a great delight. There is something special about the long game—being able to look back over decades and remembering how God has worked in my life. It is one of the best parts about growing older. God has been with me in every season, and I know I can rely on Him for every day of my future as well.
If you are looking for a way to nurture your devotional life in this season, my guided journal, “Come to Me”, might be just what you need to hear God’s voice and refresh your soul.
Reflection Questions:
1. What season are you in right now? What are the joys of this season? What are the challenges? How can you celebrate this season?
2. What aspects of your life are in transition? What pain points are you working through? What is the next step in your transition?
3. What learning opportunities do you have in this season? What resources do you need to make the most of this opportunity?
4. How are you seeing God at work in this season? What aspects of your faith are growing stronger in the stage you are in?
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father, I commit this season of my life to you. Help me to find joy in this season and make the most of the opportunities it brings. I pray for the strength to face the challenges of each day. I pray for eyes to see the joys. Help me to focus on and celebrate the good things you are doing in my life. And God, through it all, hold me close to yourself. Be my comfort and my guide as I navigate this season of my life. Thank you for your presence. Amen.
