Life's seasons are fascinating, aren’t they? Each one looks so different from the last, reminding us that we are not in control—He is. Some seasons bring adversity, while others are filled with joy. Some are dry, frustrating, or even chaotic, while others are simple, unique, or unexpectedly sweet. Some seasons stretch on for years; others pass in a moment. Some are bitter, others are sweet, but the beauty of a season lies in this: it doesn’t last forever.
I have experienced seasons in life that I grieved when they ended, and others I praise God are behind me. You truly can’t judge a person by the season they’re in because every individual is shaped differently by each season. While some things remain consistent, people mostly change as they navigate through different stages of life. What’s beautiful about Christ is that, although seasons change, Jesus remains the same. That consistency is why He is a good and trustworthy God—because He never changes.
The Scriptures remind us that our current season of life doesn’t dictate the next, but it does shape what the next season will become. Ruth’s story is a powerful example of this truth.
Ruth faced a harsh and challenging journey. A Moabite by birth, she married into a family outside her tradition. Tragically, her husband died shortly after their marriage, leaving her in a vulnerable and uncertain position. Despite this, Ruth chose to return to her mother-in-law Naomi’s homeland—a place where her chances of remarriage or security were slim. She found herself in a season of dryness and hardship.
Yet, as we know, Ruth and Naomi’s (I add Naomi as I believe the book should be called Naomi, but that is a blog for another time) story didn’t end there. It’s a story of redemption and transformation. Ruth began working in a field to provide for herself and Naomi. There, she met Boaz, the field’s owner. Over time, they married, and Ruth became not just the wife of Boaz but also the mother of a son—ushering in a season of abundance and blessing.
What’s fascinating about Ruth’s story isn’t just the dramatic shift from one season to the next but what she did in between is what matters. What was it about Ruth that made her next season abundant? What did Ruth do in between her seasons? Ruth was faithful. The key to her transformation lies in her faithfulness. Ruth remained steadfast, committed, and faithful to Naomi, to the tasks before her, and ultimately to God’s plan.
Friends, I encourage us all to embrace this truth: it may not always be our season to receive, but it is always our season to remain faithful. Be faithful in the small things, trusting that God honors faithfulness. True faith is demonstrated through obedience, regardless of what we see in our lives.
When we don’t immediately see the fruit of our labor, that is often when God honors our faithfulness the most. He knows that our faithfulness isn’t tied to the rewards we seek but to our commitment to what He has asked of us. Let our obedience be rooted not in our current circumstances but in trust and surrender to Him.
As we step into 2025, I exhort you, friends, to remain faithful in every season, knowing that we are all resting on the grace of God. If you're in a season of joy, rejoice and savor it while continuing to walk in faithfulness. If you're in a season of despair, hold tightly to Christ as your anchor—remember, He is the God who turns things around. If you're in a season of confusion, lean into His Spirit and allow Him to guide you. Trust that every season has a purpose, and God is working all things together for His glory.
I pray that through each season we would all remeber the words of the prophet Habakkuk:
"Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights."
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Blessings,
Barrett
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