Changing Seasons: Embracing Grace for Life Transitions and Goodbyes

One of the most spectacular displays in nature is the unfolding of seasons. From one end of the calendar to the other, we watch the cast of characters fall into their positions and unfold to God’s glory. Snow crests, blossoms emerge, mosquitos multiply, and leaves float.

All of the earth praises God, celebrating the Alpha and Omega, who was, is, and is to come (Revelation 1:8). Every new day and emerging season bring a place for us to transition, say farewell, and embrace.

As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. – Genesis 8:22, NIV

We need to acknowledge the natural world as part of living on this planet where we witness the regularity of sun and moon, tidal ebbs and flows, and the rhythm of changing seasons. There is a time for everything, and sometimes when that time arrives, it is an unpleasant surprise.

God knew it; but when a life event ejects us out of what we’ve adapted to as normal, we feel the aftershock of disruption and displacement. It complicates the pain of goodbye with other emotions that can be uncomfortable for us to experience, let alone talk about with others.

In every time increment, whether days, weeks, or years, we witness this pattern unfolding. In the rising of the sun or early parts of an experience, we rejoice in what God has made. In its return, as it sets, we slow down and pause to rest our bodies and our minds in preparation for what comes next.

Similarly, as we notice new seasons burgeoning and former ones fading, we can declare God’s goodness in our goodbyes and hellos. There are some lessons that we can embrace from nature as it testifies to God’s sovereign goodness.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. – Psalms 19:1, NIV

Unpacking the seasons

Winter

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. – Job 37:6

Our widely used calendar begins each year in January. Winter often appears bleak and cold. Yet, this time of hibernation not only preserves animals but also provides a necessary dormant period for some crops and plants.

It gives the earth a reset and furnishes an essential time of rest for our bodies and minds to recalibrate and reflect. Winter seasons give us space to pause with God to experience the icy chill of life, but allow Him to warm and care for us like no one or nothing else can.

Spring

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. – Isaiah 61:11, NIV

As winter fades, it seems that it holds on until its freeze is thawed into spring’s coolness and eventual warmth. Spring brings with it rain and wind, and metaphorically, it represents a time of rebirth. The Holy Spirit, as Living Water, washes away the heaviness of extended winters and bleakness.

He, as the Breath or Wind of God, stirs up the dead and worthless things in our lives and drives the chaff away, so that what is valuable can remain. The earth yawns into awakening from its slumber, and our Spring introduces the warmth that gives rise to the early buds of God’s fruitfulness in our lives.

Summer

Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. – Song of Songs 2:12, NIV

Summer seasons bring heat and light. Many times, our schedules change, allowing for rest, relaxation, and recreation. The world comes alive, and all of the insect and animal world buzzes with unfettered energy.

Earth’s colors are in full bloom, bringing its flavors and the sweetness of fellowship. Most often, summer conveys strength and vibrancy that overflows with joy at being alive to savor God’s good gifts.

Autumn

then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. – Deuteronomy 11:14, NIV

No palette can compare with the explosion of autumnal hues on the backdrop of a cooler canvas. Harvest allows us to see a return on our investments throughout the earlier months. What rested in Winter, rebirthed in Spring, and rebounded in Summer offers contemplative space for gathering, sharing, and getting away. The fragrances and flavors of Fall offer opportunities for us to give thanks alongside others, grateful to God for His abundant mercies throughout the year.

Necessary endings

An old tune laments the difficulty of saying goodbye to yesterday. Yet, If we don’t, then how can we say hello to tomorrow? We can either remain rooted in the past, never advancing beyond the difficulty or the pain of goodbye.

There are, however, some closings that we will encounter in life, as Dr. Henry Cloud conveys in his book, Necessary Endings. They may be gut-wrenching, but they are inevitable and essential for us to heal, grow, and change, not just for yesterday’s good, but for a better tomorrow.

Acknowledging an end honors our faith in the God who authors and finishes. It makes us appreciate what we gave and gleaned during a particular time or season. We do this all the time with celebrations that mark rites of passage and milestones. While our parties and ceremonies herald a new beginning, they also commemorate a season of our lives that we won’t see again, at least not in the same way.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. – Ecclesiastes 7:8, NIV

New beginnings and fresh starts to seasons

Our lives mirror God’s pattern in making all things new, even as our lives before and after we accept Christ are marked with the change that repentance brings (2 Corinthians 5:17). Inherent in each goodbye is an invitation into something else. The way Scripture describes newness is not as the refurbished, repurposed old.

Beginning or even beginning again looks, sounds, and feels differently from the familiar, previous experiences. It is indeed a fresh start complete with its own set of characteristics and adventures for us to embrace.

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:5, NIV

Transition is marked by emotional duality. We revel in the start of something. It’s exhilarating to sojourn into unchartered territory. We are eager to embrace the excitement and wonder of a new journey. However, when the shine wears off, and we get acquainted with the unexpected challenges, we crave the safety of what we once knew.

Necessary endings and new beginnings can be unnerving. The unknown doesn’t always beckon a sense of adventure. God works through our mental and emotional challenges to cultivate our reliance on Him.

As Comforter and Counselor, He graces us for the goodbyes and hellos that are part of change. We learn from these places that God offers protection, provision, and peace as we navigate all the seasons that He’s created and all the challenges He’s formed us to experience and overcome.

Next steps

While the beauty of transition is remarkable in natural surroundings, it is more challenging to navigate it in the landscape of our emotions and experiences. Simply stated, endings feel like a loss.

They bring wounds and pain that we often cope with, covering it with something that doesn’t heal but numbs us in the meantime. We mourn, grieving the passing of the old. The deficit we feel is real, yet it is as much a part of life as inviting and welcoming the wild wonder of new beginnings.

Are you struggling with the necessary endings that are embedded in life’s transitions? You may feel isolated, as you sense the movement of life’s shifting seasons. You are not alone in this, and the Holy Spirit extends counsel, comfort, and confidence to steady you through change. Reach out today to connect with a supportive and empathetic counselor at Mission Viejo Christian Counseling in California. Embrace God’s grace to equip for goodbyes and greetings amidst the changing seasons of life.