I ENJOY SOME seasons more than others. Autumn is my favorite. It isn’t too hot, cold, humid, or rainy. For a few brief months, the weather feels just right.
Just like the natural seasons change, so do the seasons in our spiritual lives. We don’t stay in the same place forever. God moves us from one season to another to prepare us for His purpose.
God doesn’t usually show us the whole path ahead. He leads us step by step. He wants us to walk by faith, not by sight. As we do, we’ll experience spiritual seasons, and each season has a purpose in God’s plan for our lives.
Season of Commitment
The first season we enter is the season of commitment. Jesus lived in full surrender to the Father. In John 6:38 (NKJV), He said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” In the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing the suffering He was about to face, Jesus still prayed, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 NKJV). Jesus didn’t come to live for Himself—and neither can we. If Jesus needed to submit His will to the Father, we do too.
This season reveals what’s really in our hearts. When God asks us to do something we don’t want to do, that’s when we find out if we’re truly committed.
Years ago I feared that fully committing to God meant I’d end up on the mission field. The missionaries I knew lived in places with no electricity or running water, and I was a city girl! I admired missionaries, but I didn’t want that life for myself. Later, a visiting minister at our church said, “You can have a heart for missions without a call to missions.” That set me free. God wasn’t trying to make my life miserable—He was just asking for my yes. He wanted a surrendered heart. And when you do commit, He gives you the grace for whatever He calls you to do.
Commitment shows up not just in the big decisions but in the daily ones. It’s choosing to forgive someone who hurt you, supporting your spouse during a tough season, or saying yes to God when the answer isn’t easy. It’s choosing His will over yours.
When my husband felt led to step into a new area of ministry, it required a move to Oklahoma. That was hard for a Dallas girl like me! I prayed, “God, if this is Your plan, give me peace too.” And He did. Later, when my husband began to question his decision, I was able to remind him, “We know this is what God told us to do.” That’s what commitment looks like—being willing to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done,” and sticking with it.
SEASON OF PREPARATION
Once we commit, we enter the season of preparation. James 4:8 (NKJV) says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” To follow God’s plan for our lives, we must develop a relationship with Him. We have to get close enough to Him to hear His instructions.
It takes time to build that kind of closeness. Just like parents learn to understand their young child’s gibberish by spending time with them, we learn to hear God more clearly the more we’re with Him. Joshua 1:8 tells us to meditate on the Word day and night, and Matthew 6:33 says to seek first the Kingdom
of God.
Sometimes God speaks to us through thoughts. He usually speaks to me this way in the quiet moments—while I’m driving or putting on makeup. I once got so caught up in a conversation with the Lord during my commute, I missed my exit entirely. That’s how natural it becomes when we spend time with Him regularly. His voice begins to lead our thoughts, our decisions, and our days.
In this season of preparation, we develop spiritual discipline. We learn to walk by faith—not just by feelings or sight. It strengthens and prepares us for what’s next.
SEASON OF WAITING
Closely connected to preparation is the season of waiting. This is often the hardest season because we don’t like to wait. We want answers and immediate results. But God isn’t in a hurry. He uses waiting to season us—to develop our character and deepen our trust in Him.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” Waiting isn’t passive. It’s an active season of trust. There will be a time of testing. It’s the testing time that builds our faith and endurance.
If you’re feeling weary, you need to wait on the Lord. Maybe you’ve been praying for direction or breakthrough and feel like nothing is happening. But just because you can’t see anything happening doesn’t mean God isn’t working. Don’t lose patience. If you stay still and wait on the Lord, you will experience victory.
SEASON OF STRETCHING
Finally comes the season of stretching. This is when God asks us to go beyond what’s comfortable or familiar. It might be stepping into a new assignment, letting go of something we love, or walking in obedience even when it costs us. In this season, we must not waver or start questioning the Lord.
Stretching is where growth happens. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also where we begin to see fruit. We often pray, “Lord, use me,” but then pull back when the assignment feels too big. Stretching tests whether we’ll trust Him when things don’t go as planned.
I remember telling the Lord, “I’ll go wherever You want me to go”—and I meant it—until He actually asked me to go somewhere I didn’t want to go. That’s when I realized there was still more surrender to give.
This season may require forgiving someone who wronged you, or loving someone who’s hard to love. It might mean staying put when you’d rather leave, or speaking up when you’d rather stay silent. Every act of obedience stretches our faith.
So what season are you in? Are you committing your will to God’s? Are you preparing—learning to hear and follow His voice? Are you waiting for His timing? Or is He stretching you to believe and obey in new ways?
Whatever season you’re in, know that God is with you. He is faithful in every step, every silence, every stretch. Trust Him. Each season is shaping you for the purpose He created you to fulfill.
Author
Lynette Hagin
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