This sermon explores embracing life's seasons, appreciating the beauty of change, and trusting in God's divine timing and purpose for each phase of our lives.
Hey there, family! So glad you're joining us today. We're about to get into a topic that touches everyone, no matter who you are or where you're at in life. We're talking about seasons that not only bring us snow or sunshine, but the seasons in our own lives.
Max Lucado Quote – There's a quote from a respected Christian author, Max Lucado, that says, "Nature is God’s first missionary. Where there is no Bible there are sparkling stars. Where there are no preachers, there are Spring times. If a person has nothing but nature, then nature is enough to reveal something about God." Isn't that just a beautiful way to look at it? While this quote is not saying that creation is sufficient to bring about salvation to sinners, creation is calling us to know God.
Opening Scripture Reading – Our Scripture today comes from the book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, Verses 1 and 11. It says, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...He has made everything beautiful in its time."
When we think about the seasons of the year, we see how each one brings its own unique beauty and challenges. The winter, with its cold and snow, forces us to bundle up and stay indoors. But it also brings the joy of holidays and the beauty of a snow-covered landscape. Spring, with its rain and new growth, brings the promise of new life. Summer, with its heat and long days, invites us to enjoy the outdoors and take vacations. Fall, with its changing colors and cooler temperatures, reminds us of the passage of time.
Seasons bring change. Just as the seasons of the year bring change, so do the seasons of our lives. Each season of life brings its own unique beauty and challenges. The season of childhood, with its innocence and play, teaches us about the world. The season of adolescence, with its growth and change, helps us discover who we are. The season of adulthood, with its responsibilities and opportunities, allows us to make our mark on the world. The season of old age, with its wisdom and reflection, gives us a chance to look back on our lives and pass on our knowledge to the next generation.
Transition. Season are not random or meaningless. They are designed to help us grow and mature, to teach us about ourselves and the world, and to bring us closer to God. Each season has a purpose, and each season is beautiful in its own way. But, how do we embrace new season? Well, that’s what I’m going to be focusing on in this first point.
Recognize that seasons are part of God's plan. This can be difficult, especially when the new season brings challenges or hardships. But we can take comfort in knowing that God has a purpose for every season of our lives. He is not surprised or caught off guard by the changes we face. He is in control, and He is working all things together for our good.
Appreciate its unique beauty. If we look closely, we can find beauty in every season of life. We can find joy in the simple things, like a child's laughter or a beautiful sunset. We can find peace in the quiet moments, like a walk in the park or a cup of tea. We can find strength in the challenges, like a difficult job or a health crisis.
Learn from its challenges. This is perhaps the most difficult part of embracing a new season, but it is also the most rewarding. The challenges we face in each season of life are not meant to break us, but to make us stronger. They are not meant to discourage us, but to help us grow. They are not meant to defeat us, but to teach us about ourselves and God.
Trust in God's timing. Let’s be honest, waiting for God to work in our lives can be exhausting, especially when it feels like the season is lasting too long or not long enough. But we can trust that God knows what He is doing. He knows when it's time for us to move from one season to another. He knows when it's time for us to grow, and when it's time for us to rest. He knows when it's time for us to work, and when it's time for us to play.
Recap/Transition. Embracing a new season is not always easy, but it is always worth it. It is an opportunity to grow, to learn, to appreciate, and to trust. It is an opportunity to see God's hand at work in our lives, and to draw closer to Him. So let's embrace each new season with open hearts and open minds, trusting in God's plan, appreciating the beauty, learning from the challenges, and trusting in His timing.
As we immerse ourselves in the rhythm of life's seasons, we find ourselves confronted with the inevitability of change ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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