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Acts 14:17b – He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. (NIV)
I love living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, a corner of the United States that enjoys four full seasons. I emphasize four seasons because there are varying lengths and kinds of seasons around the globe. When God created the universe, He established day and night, days, years — and seasons as markers of time.
Genesis 1:14 – Then God said, "Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years." (NLT)
Let's liken these four (typical) seasons in nature to the seasons in a person's life, dividing a lifespan into four segments:
- Spring — Ages 0-25 (Youth — birth and early growth)
- Summer — Ages 25-50 (Early adulthood — maturation and full strength)
- Autumn — Ages 50-75 (Late adulthood — slowing down and preparing for the end of life)
- Winter — Ages 75-100 (Old age — closing out life's cycle)
Comparing the seasons of life to the cycle of the earth's seasons is apt. Seasons bring variety to the world around us, just as progressing age brings variety to life. Each season has a beginning, a period of maturation, and an ending. So does each period of a person's life. Earth's seasons circle around and around again, repeating year after year. Mankind's seasons of life, however, move from one to the next without repetition, each season leading inexorably to the next. It is impossible to reverse or rearrange the order of these seasons of life. Once started, the life cycle is unstoppable — until the time for death comes to everyone. Those who have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, however, can look forward to a fifth season — one that will never end. Heaven will follow the normal cycle of seasons of life and is an incomparable blessing to look forward to.
God has embedded this sequential pattern into creation and into human life. We ought to be mindful as we move through the seasons of life, using each to its best advantage. Youth's strength and vigour will pass, but wisdom and experience will come into play as people move into their later years.
Proverbs 20:29 – The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old. (NLT)
Changes in life are desirable, and the aging process is essential. We should not go through life looking over our shoulder at the past, grieving for what is no longer attainable. Each approaching season will have its purpose and should be joyfully anticipated. For a Christian, the best is always yet to come!
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, we are grateful for the systematic sequence of life that You have established for creation and humanity. May we use our days and our seasons of life wisely and well, embracing change without regret — and looking ahead to living forever with You. Amen.
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Amen Gail.
Thanks for sharing. Beautiful piece.
Bless you Gail. As is not a surprise, this devotion is exactly what I needed to read today.
Very interesting post and a wonderful way to look at life, Gail!
Thanks, and blessings!
Thanks, Gail, for this devotional reminder of our limited life span here, but of our ultimate life in heaven. Blessings.
Interesting, Gail. In the ministry I coordinate, pastors in their winter season spend the summer preaching and teaching other “winter season” folks. They’re continuing to work for God even as they slow down.
Dear Gail,
I have never seen it expressed this way before. Thanks for sharing your wise thoughts on life as a Christian. May you enjoy every moment of yours. Blessings.
Dear Gail:
I really enjoyed your excellent devotional.
At age 7, on my father’s knee, I invited Jesus to take over my life. That was 70 years ago! From that moment on, I have been excitedly looking forward to seeing Him face to face and being in Heaven.
By His infinite grace, my hubby, family, and all our grandchildren walk with the Lord!!!
Our Lord can take us any time – the best is yet to be! All by His sacrifice, love, and grace! “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!”
See you up there!
Blessings.
O well said, Gail! Your devotional is really apt and so useful in this ‘sister context.’ I have to keep myself from always using specific translations because they say so much to me. Particularly the Amplified Classic and the Easy To Read ones. I really love the opportunity to explore different interpretations of familiar scripture.
And while we’re on the ‘familiar,’ I do pray for you in the Portland of these days! We could never have imagined in all our days, that gentle, quiet Portland Oregon could be a hotspot for the kinds of troubles it has had to bear lately. My very Scots/Brit town has had some incomprehensible similarities too. So much for taking ANYTHING for granted. Instead, we take what we have, for God.
Very thought provoking.
Dear Gail,
At the age of 90+, I appreciate ” especially: “Those who have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, however, can look forward to a fifth season – one that will never end. Heaven will follow the normal cycle of seasons of life and is an incomparable blessing to look forward to.”
Thank you for the devotional.
God bless you with continuing ideas for more.