Seasons of our Soul

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

(Eccl 3:1-8 KJV)

We grow in our Spiritual life, much in the same ways we grow in the physical. And we pass through the same "seasons". Yet the Spirit is not bound by time and space, as our physical bodies are, so a child of twelve may be very mature in the Spirit and a man of sixty can still be a babe in Christ. In the same way, our seasons very, thus one may be saved and mature very quickly, while another might have been a believer for many years, and still be a child in the faith. We mature, as the Holy Spirit leads us, and as our faith in our Lord grows. Each of us walk a personal walk with the Comforter, and each of us blossoms at our own rate. But, as our maturing is not bound by time, we can also stumble in the walk and regress in maturity. But as the "Preacher" said "to every thing there is a season". And we walk as our guide leads, He knows what pace is best for us, and when we need to tarry a while and rest in the Lord.

Babes:

What is more precious and pure than a new born babe? Before they have been burdened with doctrine and dogma. Pure love, pure innocence, but they are also alot of work. They are helpless and must be nurtured and feed. They can be selfish and demanding if their needs are not met, but if they are loved, and well cared for, they thrive. They are a joy and blessing to all.

Infants and Toddlers:

What a joy, as saints begin to grow in the faith. They begin to 'learn the ropes' and discover their gifts. They are so proud of themselves as they begin to master the basics and can do some things for themselves. They want to run headlong in their joy, unaware of the pits and snares waiting to hurt them. They are learning independence, but they need constant nurture and admonition.

Children of GOD:

Most of us spend our lives in this area. It is a broad range, from the young child who is just beginning to practice their gifts to older siblings who are able to nurture their brothers and sisters and lead others. This is an important time, with much to learn. We are learning to be part of GOD's family. We grow in our gifts, mature in our spirit, and begin to be intrusted with work to do for our Lord.
But we are still chidren in our Fathers house, and must strive to learn our lessons well. As an infant must learn to walk before they can run, we must obediently follow where the Holy Spirit leads us. He is our school master, and our task master. Our youth is apt to straying. Our attention is easily diverted, and we are quick to emotional outbursts.

Adolescence:

As in the flesh, this is a turbulent time. We are almost mature, growing in ability and responsibility. We have learned so much, and grown so fast, we are sure we know it all. We walk proudly with our Lord, thinking ourselves strong and mature. We are filled with youthful exuberance, ready to take on the world and battle the enemy face to face. We tend to look down on our siblings as "children" even though we can be trusted to love and nurture them. We strive for the acceptance of our elders as equals, yet in our nature we rebel and desire independence from their authority.
This is a very dangerous time. We are easily deceived and led astray by our own self assuredness. We are becoming strong in our gifts, gaining more and greater authority in the Kingdom. Now our failures can deeply hurt others as well as ourselves. Many look to us as leaders, and our deceptions become theirs. We have ability, but are just beginning to understand the responsibility of our walk.

Young Adulthood:

We have matured in our Lord, and our work is ahead of us. We still retain some of our youthful traits, but we attempt to control and harness them. Still, our center is ourselves. "Our Ministry", the work the Lord has given us, demand all our energies. We are so filled with our own responsibilities that we fail to see the bigger picture. We are faithful workers in the fields of our Lord, giving our all, striving for the faith with all our strength.
As we continue to mature and grow (a process ,we find, that will never end) we risk tiring ourselves out, or losing sight of our goal. Slowly we begin to realize the greater purposes of our Lord, and that our little labor is not at the center of all His plans.

Mid-Life Crisis:

Yes, it happens. We have labored long and hard, our youthful exuberance is giving way to daily drudgery. We begin to question our walk, our preoccupation with "Our Ministry". We begin to see that there is so much more then our little ministry.

We realize that we do not need to strive for the heights of ministry, only do what we are called to do and enjoy the fellowship with our Lord. We walk with Him in the cool of the day, wondering why we have not done this more often. We see the beauty of little children and our desire for their welfare grows. We Love the youth, with their boundless energy and fire to serve. We at last begin to lose our ambition and realize our security.

Mature:

i'm not sure we ever reach full maturity in our walk with the Lord. The process continues day by day. A wise man once said that you begin to learn when you realize how little you already know. As we grow and mature there is less and less of US and more and more LOVE. We no longer seek our own but the welfare of others, we serve our GOD because He is our GOD, not to gain respect or admiration.
There may be wisdom in the physical, that if we live long enough we once again become as little children. Perhaps the end of our walk is as the very beginning...
Complete trust, complete innocence, complete love, complete faith.

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:
but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

(1 Cor 13:10-12 KJV)

i could ask you at this point where you are in your maturity, and exhort you to grow. That would be mute. You are where you are, and there is no better place for you to be. Look to your guide, your Comforter. None of us are greater or lesser in the Lord. The babe is as loved as the adult. No one should look down on others, or themselves, because of their maturity. We grow as the Lord leads and by His Grace.
Yes little ones, strive to mature, but do not scorn your youth. And don't try to stand beyond your stature, lest you fall. Nor should you force others to bear your burden. Would you tell a six year old that he must find a job? Let them mature as the Lord guides them. Love all, nurture all, respect all. We are all brothers and sisters, each with our own call, our own gifts, our own walk. Yet we are One Body, One Spirit, with One Lord.

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