Seasons of the Soul
“Seasons in the Sun” was a popular pop song in 1974, a one-hit wonder of sorts. It was played continuously on the radio during its time of popularity. Sung by Terry Jacks, it was originally written in French. Jacks put it in English and changed the lyrics somewhat. It was a story song about a young man who was dying and was saying goodbye to several people in his life.
Goodbye to you my trusted friend
Goodbye Papa, please pray for me
Goodbye Michelle, my little one
We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun...
I want to borrow that idea to share what I’m calling “Seasons of the Soul.” Every soul, every human being, will go through various seasons, or stages, or periods in his/her life. Ecclesiastes 3 states that there is a time and a season for everything “under the sun.”
Things simply don’t always remain on an even keel, go in a straight-line, run on level ground, or give us sunshine and roses. Short or long, continuous or intermittent, up or down life will give us:
Seasons of joy and of sorrow
Seasons of confidence and of fear
Seasons of victory and of defeat
Seasons of accomplishment and of disappointment
This is likely to be true whether we’re basically an optimist or a pessimist, jovial or dour, hyper or laid back. We can be overwhelmed if we let life dictate our responses to what happens. Our response is so important.
Seasons of Suffering
In June 1944, Betsie Ten Boom and her sister Corrie were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her strong faith in God kept her from depression throughout her life and especially within the camps. Corrie told of how Betsie reached out to help others and helped Corrie to see the best in everything, no matter what the circumstances.
Betsie died in Ravensbrück on 16th December 1944, aged 59. The last words she had spoken to Corrie before she died were, “You must tell people what we have learned here. We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here.” This indeed was the motivation Corrie needed, as she travelled to over 60 countries and wrote her books, doing just what Betsie had encouraged her to do.
Seasons of the soul. There will be many in every life. What lessons can we learn to prepare us to cope, to be victorious, and to glorify God?
1. Walk by faith, not by sight. (II Corinthians 5:7) We must live as “seeing the Invisible.” (Hebrews 11:27)
2. Learn from the example and exhortation of others. (I Samuel 23:16 tells how Jonathan came at an opportune moment and strengthened David’s faith in God as he was being cruelly pursued by King Saul.)
3. Be prepared for the unexpected. In that way we’re less likely to be overwhelmed.
4. Strive for balance, both emotional and volitional. We should neither be a Pollyanna nor an Eeyore.
5. Above all, trust in the One who guides our journey. He is the changeless one, and He is the source of our strength.
A pastor friend from Cuba, Henry Mayor, shared these thoughts in a recent meditation in Spanish. Here’s the English translation.
”… casting all your anxiety on him, for he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)
This verse is like a mast in times of storm. Today more than ever we need to appropriate the truths contained in this text. Our world moves at an enormous speed, every day scientific advances happen by leaps and bounds, in the health field, in the automotive industry; in short, we are in the digital era where thousands of operations can be done from a mobile device without having to leave the comfort of home, but we also have today the most anxious and depressed generation in history.
The statistics of people depending on drugs to attenuate anxiety, suicides due to depression and also hospital admissions are alarming, but fortunately there is a solution, and it is Jesus Christ. He is willing to take upon himself our anxiety and fill our hearts with his peace and indescribable joy, but he demands of us something to make that possible, to place ourselves in his arms, to abandon ourselves to his care. Notice that today’s text offers us the reason why we can cast our anxiety and anguish on Him, because “… he takes care of you.”
Perhaps you are living a stormy stage, of anguish, intense anxiety, economic crisis, rebellious children, slander or unfair accusations, etc. Whatever your situation is, do not forget this truth, God takes care of you, rest in Him, surrender into His hands and trust, in God we are safe.
A Lifetime of Faith
A song “Blessed Be Your Name” by Matt Redman catches the idea of surviving and thriving in every season of life. Let this by our heart’s cry for 2025.
Blessed be your name when the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all that it should be
Blessed be your name
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Blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering
When there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name
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Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, still I will say
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Blessed be the name of the Lord...
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You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be your name
(Images Designed by Freepik.)
- Seasons of the Soul - January 14, 2025
- From Everlasting to Everlasting - July 1, 2024
- Christian Attitudes and Actions in a Non-Christian World - November 30, 2023
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