Seasons of Life

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8

INTRODUCTION: The Rhythm of Seasons

Seasons are part of the world we live in. Every year we move from winter to spring, spring to summer, summer to fall, and then back again to winter. Depending on where you live, those changes may be dramatic or they may be so subtle you only realize it’s a new season because the calendar says so.

Life is often the same way. Sometimes the changes are gradual, barely noticed until we look back. Other times, the change comes suddenly—like a hard freeze, a violent storm, or the scorching heat of summer. Life brings its own hard freezes and storms: the loss of a loved one, an injury, a move, or something unexpected that shakes us deeply.

Sometimes the change is dramatic—a freeze, a storm, a drought. Other times it’s subtle, barely noticed until we look back.

Life mirrors nature: some changes happen gradually; others strike suddenly.

Central Truth: Change is certain, but Christ is constant.

I. THE CERTAINTY OF CHANGE

(Ecclesiastes 3:1–4)

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

I am not going to break this passage down verse by verse today, but the meaning is clear enough: change happens. It is part of God’s design for the world and part of His design for our lives. What we do not control is when the seasons change, but what we do control is how we respond when they do.

Solomon recognizes what we all know—life is always moving, shifting, changing. There’s a rhythm to life: birth and death, weeping and laughter, gain and loss. Just as the seasons turn without our permission, so do the seasons of our lives.

Illustration: Life’s hard freezes — losing a loved one, job transitions, health struggles, ministry changes.

Key truth: You can’t stop the seasons from changing, but you can choose how you respond when they do.

That is why we need wisdom from the Lord to know when it is time to speak or stay silent, to fight or to stand still, to embrace or to refrain, to weep or to laugh.

II. THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE SEASONS

(Ecclesiastes 3:5–7)

God’s design for creation includes change; it’s how He refines and matures His people. Some seasons are for planting, others for harvesting, others for pruning or resting. We may not understand the reason in the moment, but every season has divine purpose.

Illustration from life: This truth has been a part of my life not only in ministry but even in my work before becoming a pastor. I grew up on a ranch and later worked cattle on ranches all across this country—Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Arizona, and New Mexico. Each ranch was in the same line of work: cattle, horses, ranching life. But every outfit did things a little differently. Some used different techniques, some had different traditions, some worked cattle one way, and some worked cattle another.

Every time I stepped into a new place, it felt like a new season. At first, the change was uncomfortable, because it meant letting go of the way I was used to doing things. But I quickly learned that change is normal and okay. Each ranch taught me something new, and over time I realized that while the seasons were different, the purpose was the same.

Key statement: “The purpose was always the same—even if the process was different.”

That lesson has stayed with me: change is not something to fear, because even in change God is still at work accomplishing His purpose.

Application: Every season of life may look different, but God’s purpose never changes: He’s shaping us, growing us, and preparing us for what’s next.

III. THE WISDOM TO RESPOND WELL

(Ecclesiastes 3:7–8)

We need discernment to know when to act, when to wait, when to speak, when to be silent. Wisdom isn’t controlling the seasons—it’s trusting the One who ordains them.

Ask yourself: “Am I resisting what God is doing, or resting in it?”

IV. A PERSONAL REFLECTION: MY SEASON AT WESTERN TRAIL

Right now, I have the privilege of serving at Western Trail Cowboy Church, and I have been here for over four years. This church family is precious to me, and I thank God for the season He has given me here.

But I also know that ministry is like the seasons—God can call me into a new one at any time. Will I be here for my whole ministry? Maybe, maybe not. And if the Lord were to call me away, who am I to say no?

The same is true for every believer. God may shift your season in your family, in your work, or in your place of service, and when He does, our call is not to resist but to trust.

Emphasize gratitude: this is a season of blessing and faithfulness. “But ministry, like life, moves in seasons. And when God shifts the season, our response must be trust.”

V. THE CALL TO TRUST CHRIST IN EVERY SEASON

When the heat comes, when the storm hits, when winter feels cold—He’s still Lord of every season. We often grumble about change, like we do about the weather, but God calls us to keep walking in faith.

We live through the seasons—keep working cattle, keep showing up, keep trusting.

Key statement: Seasons change, but Christ does not. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

There’s a rhythm to life that reminds us we are not in control. The writer of Ecclesiastes said, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Some seasons bring laughter and joy, while others bring loss and silence. We don’t always get to choose which one we’re in, but we do get to choose how we walk through it.

Through it all, one thing never shifts—God’s presence. Seasons can change overnight: a new job, an unexpected loss, a child growing up, a door closing. But God does not drift with the wind. He is constant when life is uncertain.

Psalm 46 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” That means His presence is not seasonal—it’s steadfast.

Sometimes we long for stability, for everything to stay as it is. But maybe what God wants isn’t to freeze time—it’s to form trust. Each season has its purpose. Winter may feel silent, but it’s where the roots deepen. Spring brings life again. Summer bears fruit. Fall teaches us to let go. And in every one of those, God walks with us.

So as we look around and sense the winds changing in our own lives, remember this: God is not leaving when the season turns. He is leading. He doesn’t promise unchanging circumstances—but He promises His unchanging presence.

CONCLUSION

Whatever season you are in—mourning or dancing, losing or gaining—Christ remains constant.

Close with this line: “The God who ordains the seasons of nature also ordains the seasons of your life. For everything there is a season, and in every season, there is a Savior.”

When this season gives way to the next, hold on to that truth. Seasons come and go, but the Shepherd who walks beside you never changes. The fields may shift, the sky may turn, but the presence of the Lord remains sure. He never promised unchanging circumstances—but He did promise His unchanging presence.

Next Week’s Setup

“Next Sunday, I want to share how God is leading into a new season—not just for me, but for us as a church family. I hope you’ll be here for it.”