but always You remain the same
The title of this blog comes partly from a song written by Matt Stinton, “Who Can Compare to You.” And, last fall, I had been wondering and internally questioning why seasons are a thing in life and why they happen. Why can’t life just remain the same, all year long? Like, why can’t we just have summer and crops and harvest and a good time every day? Why does the calendar year go through seasons, too?
And, coincidentally, my mom sent a video in one of our group chats (without her knowing I was thinking about this), and it was about … seasons. More specifically, the seasons of life and the attitudes and preparations that can happen in and for each season. The man teaching in this video was talking about how life, too, has a summer, fall, winter, spring cycle, which I had not heard before. As I listened to this video, I found that it was true. He talked about what can be done in each season and what you can do to prepare for the next season. Eventually, each season comes to an end as another season begins. So it is in the calendar year: it’s not winter all year long, and yet it is not summer all year long. We have seasons and in each season there are things we can do during it that we can’t really do in other seasons and there are things we can do to prepare for the coming season.
“The major value in life is not what you get. The major value in life is what you become.”
In the video, he was talking about how personal development takes initiative on the person who is willing to change and grow. And, I’m realizing God uses each season to do just that. As I’m writing this, I am reminded of how God declared in Genesis: “Let lights in the expanse of the sky be for separating the day from the night. They will be for signs and for seasons and for days and years” (1:14, TLV). God established seasons right from the beginning, and it’s interesting to note this was established before man was even created … which means it is good to have seasons because God designed it that way. I can’t change it, but what I can do is accept it and live in those seasons the way God intended.
“If you will change, everything will change for you.”
The symbolism of the seasons mentioned in the video are as follows:
- Winter: Some are long, some are short; some are easier, some are more difficult—but they’ll always come, year after year. Action steps: Learn to handle it. I can also get wiser, stronger, and better during the winter season.
- Spring: Interestingly enough, spring follows winter. Action steps: Learn to take advantage of the spring. Spring is a season of opportunity, which is also how it works in life: Typically, opportunity follows difficulty.
- Summer is a season to learn to nourish values and fight enemies. Be alert that some of the enemies can be internal. They can be your mindset or thoughts that are holding you back—fight them with the Word of God (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6).
- Fall or Harvest: Action steps: Reap the harvest without complaining. I’m the one that planted the seeds in the spring and did (or did not) maintain the growth in the summer—I should expect a harvest and the work that comes with it.
Now that we’re entering into spring soon, I am reminded of this video and how the seasons of life do not surprise God and He is not wondering what each of our lives is going to look like or turn out. What I need to do is remain faithful to Him and trust Him in every step of the path I take as I follow Him. Truly, if I am in His hands, I am in good hands and there’s no better place to be.
I mentioned the title of this post is a little wink to one of my favorite songs (please note: not necessarily the band, at this point), and the lyrics are: “Kingdoms come and kingdoms fade, but always You remain / Ages pass and seasons change, but always You remain.” It’s such a beautiful song, and a good reminder that in the ever-changing seasons of life, I serve a God who never changes. Be encouraged by His faithfulness, friends.
“For everything there is a season and a time for every activity under heaven.” || Ecclesiastes 3:1, TLV
“Then God said, ‘Let lights in the expanse of the sky be for separating the day from the night. They will be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.’” || Genesis 1:14, TLV
“As long as the earth endures, seed and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will not cease.” || Genesis 8:22, LEB
“Who Can Compare” by Matt Stinton: Watch/Listen Here
“If You Truly Want to be Wealthy & Successful” by Jim Rohn: Watch/Listen Here
Truly Loved + Wholly Surrendered 
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