When God Is Bringing You Into A New Season
Seasons change, both literally with the changing seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter, as well as figuratively in our spiritual lives. Often when one season ends, another begins. If you feel God leading you into a new phase spiritually, here are some common themes of what that shift may look like.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: When God brings you into a new spiritual season, common themes include introspection & preparation, change & transition, receiving from God, and new opportunities & growth.
In this article, we’ll explore biblical examples of new seasons like Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Jesus’ disciples after the resurrection, and more. We’ll look at common symbols like wilderness, springtime, pregnancy, and agriculture that represent the themes of spiritual seasons shifting.
Most importantly, we’ll highlight principles of how to prepare for, thrive in, and walk with God’s guidance into your new phase of life.
Pay Attention to Symbols of Change & Transition
When God is bringing you into a new season of life, it’s important to pay attention to the signs and symbols He sends your way. These can indicate that change and transition are on the horizon. Here are some ways to recognize the symbols of new seasons:
Doors Opening and Closing
If you find that new opportunities are arising while other doors are closing, it may signify God is directing you down a new path. For example, if you’ve been praying about a career change and suddenly a great job offer comes your way, it could be God answering your prayers and providing an open door.
At the same time, He may be closing the door to your current job or position. This combination of open and shut doors is a strong indicator of an upcoming life transition.
Desires and Dreams Changing
When your heart’s desires start to shift and you begin dreaming about new goals, relationships, or directions in life, pay attention! These changing inward aspirations are often God realigning your hopes and dreams to match the new season He has for you.
For instance, He may plant a deep passion for ministry or missions in your spirit when He’s calling you into a new season of Christian service.
Divine Encounters and Revelations
Strategic people, conversations, resources, and ideas that come across your path are another sign of new seasons. For example, if you keep bumping into information about a ministry or business idea out of nowhere, it may be God revealing the next step He has for you.
Pay attention to divine encounters and revelations – they are often guideposts marking out new seasons in your life.
Shifts in Relationships
As seasons change, it’s common for friendships, connections, and relationships to be rearranged. For instance, when transitioning to a new career or ministry calling, you may find yourself building bonds with a new group of people who share your passions and calling.
On the flip side, you may notice relationships that were once strong becoming distant. These relational shifts are strategic – God places people in our lives for seasons, and moves them on according to His plans and purposes for each phase of life.
Disorientation and Restlessness
When you feel internally unsettled, disoriented, bored, or restless, it could signify a change of season is just ahead. God often uses a deep inner restlessness to move us out of comfortable ruts we’ve settled into and push us into new growth and responsibility.
Don’t ignore feelings of restlessness and disorientation – they are a call to prepare your heart and life for change.
Increase or Decrease
Notice the patterns of increase and decrease in your life – finances, responsibilities, activities, etc. God will often increase certain areas in preparation for a new assignment or season, while decreasing or pruning other areas. Times of increase or decrease are signs that a shift is imminent.
Ask God for wisdom in discerning these patterns of provision, increase, and pruning.
Supernatural Peace About Change
While signs of transition can bring uncertainty and fear, a key indicator of a God-ordained change of season is supernatural peace. When He is orchestrating a new direction, you will sense His grace and enabling strength in embracing the new. He will make the unknown way feel safe and right.
Inner assurance and peace about moving forward are some of the clearest confirmations of a new season.
By recognizing these signs of change and transition, you’ll be prepared to move with God into each new season of life and calling. Stay alert – He is always doing new things and He wants us ready and willing to follow His lead.
Each phase of life is an exciting adventure when we walk in step with the Holy Spirit!
Prepare for a Spiritual Growth Spurt
When God is bringing you into a new season of spiritual growth and transformation, it’s important to prepare yourself to receive all that He has in store. Here are some ways to get ready for an exciting time of development in your faith:
Examine Your Heart
Spend time in prayer and reflection, asking God to reveal any areas of sin or unbelief that may be hindering your growth. Repentance and humility before God clear the way for Him to work powerfully. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts” (Psalm 139:23).
Study God’s Word
God’s Word is food for our spirit and equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Set aside regular time to read, meditate on, and memorize Scripture. The Psalms are great for meditating on God’s truth and goodness.
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).
Spend Time in God’s Presence
There’s no better way to grow spiritually than by spending time with God. Set aside time for extended worship, prayer, and just being still before Him. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Enjoy His presence and allow Him to fill you afresh with His Spirit.
Get Plugged into Christian Community
Growth happens best in relationship with other believers. Make fellowship a priority by getting involved in a small group, serving at your church, and spending time with mature Christians who can encourage you.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
Serve Others
Spiritual growth isn’t just about us and God. As we grow, we’re equipped to build up the body of Christ and reach the lost. Look for ways to love and serve others in Jesus’ name. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others” (1 Peter 4:10).
This new season in your walk with God is going to be amazing! Stay close to Him and be willing to step out in any new directions He leads. With an open heart and spirit of anticipation, you’ll be ready to soar to new heights! “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31).
Anticipate God’s Unique Promises Fulfilling
When we feel God is bringing us into a new season of life, it can be both exciting and scary. The future is unknown, but we can find comfort and hope in anticipating the special promises God has for this next chapter.
God’s Plans are Good
Even when we can’t see where God is leading, we can trust His plans are good. As Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Though the road ahead has twists and turns, God sees the full picture.
Fresh Mercy and Grace
In Lamentations 3:22-23 we read: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Each new season brings God’s fresh mercy and enabling grace. He promises to equip us for whatever He calls us to.
Joy and Purpose
Though seasons change, God Himself never changes. He continues loving us and staying by our side. As we follow His lead, we can expect “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). The gifts and talents He’s given were meant for this time in history.
We can find joy and purpose in using them for His Kingdom in this new season.
New Spiritual Growth
New seasons force us to depend on God in new ways as we step out in faith. As we yield to Him fully, He brings spiritual growth. We bear His image more clearly as we encounter new people and opportunities. This growth equips us for deeper ministry.
The key is keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus as we walk into the unknown. Rather than focusing on the discomfort of change, we can joyfully anticipate His loving promises for this next chapter! God’s plans to prosper us and give us a hope-filled future are trustworthy and true.
Embrace This Opportunity to Know God More
When God brings you into a new season of life, it is often because He wants to draw you into a deeper relationship with Him. This special time can strengthen your faith and understanding of God’s loving purposes. Approach it with openness to expanded spiritual growth.
Reflect on Previous Seasons to Appreciate God’s Faithfulness
Start by prayerfully looking back at past seasons of your walk with God. Consider the ways He has gently led you through difficulties and times of change. Make a list of the moments when He brought blessings out of hardships, opened doors of opportunity, or gave you just what you needed even before you asked.
This exercise bolsters assurance that God will continue to lead and provide in the future (Philippians 1:6).
Study Scripture with Fresh Eyes
Next, commit to studying sections of the Bible with a renewed hunger to comprehend God’s character and promises on a deeper level. Approach the Word Expecting the Holy Spirit to reveal insights you haven’t grasped before (John 14:26).
Pay special attention to verses that jumped out at you during past seasons—contemplate how their meaning might connect uniquely with what lies ahead. This realigns your perspective with kingdom priorities rather than earthly concerns (Matthew 6:33).
Journal Heartfelt Prayers and God’s Guidance
Recording your prayers and traces of God’s hand at work nurtures your spiritual life. As you process uncertainties about the future, pour out your heart to the Lord through journaling. Capture how He responds with particular Scripture passages, pieces of wisdom, or direction to take action.
Returning to written reminders builds unwavering reliance on the Shepherd who leads His flock faithfully (Psalm 23:1-3).
Lean on Spiritual Community
Don’t isolate yourself when challenges arise in this new phase. Reach out for support from pastors, mentors, or small groups who can pray alongside you and offer perspective from their own experiences.
The Body of Christ thrives when each member contributes their spiritual gifts to strengthen one another through all kinds of transitions and trials (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Allow trusted friends to speak truth boldly into your life.
Times of change always bring a mixture of exciting new beginnings and fearful endings. But they also create space for the very best kind of transformation—a deepening understanding of God’s steadfast love and the gift of an increasingly intimate walk with Him.
Lean fully on the Shepherd who promises to guide you through restless nights into the goodness He has prepared for each tomorrow (Jeremiah 29:11). Every step with His comfort and counsel prepares you for overflowing influence in the lives of many others.
Learn Principles for Navigating Change
Change can be exciting and invigorating, but it can also be scary and stressful. As we enter a new season in life, whether in our relationships, careers, or spirituality, it is important to keep some key principles in mind to help us navigate change in a healthy way.
Here are some thoughts on embracing change while still finding security and purpose.
Let Go of Control
A lot of our stress during seasons of change comes from trying to control everything. We want assurances about what the future will look like. But the reality is, we can’t control everything. As the saying goes, we must let go of the shore we know to sail to a new one.
This letting go requires faith and trust that God is in control even when things feel out of control to us. We must hand over our need for control to God.
Embrace Uncertainty
Similar to letting go of control, learning to embrace uncertainty is key. When we enter a new season, there is often a lot we just don’t know yet about what’s coming. But rather than being paralyzed by this uncertainty, we can see it as an invitation for adventure and exploration.
Though it may feel uncomfortable at first, embracing the unknown together with God builds our faith muscle as we follow Him one step at a time.
Focus on Growth
Seasons of change should be viewed primarily as opportunities for growth rather than things to be endured. How might this change make you a wiser, more mature, or more faithful person? Even painful changes can produce growth when we keep the right perspective (see Romans 5:3-5).
Look for ways God wants to mold your character and deepen your walk with Him.
Pursue Community
It’s easy to isolate when going through uncertain times of transition. But you will navigate change much better if you pursue authentic Christian community during the process. Share your journey with trusted believers who can pray for you, speak truth, and walk with you through change.
Their support makes the road less lonely. We need each other.
Take Care of Yourself
Finally, be sure to take care of yourself holistically during seasons of change. Get enough rest, eat healthy foods, engage socially with people who fill your cup, and make time for exercise and hobbies.
Don’t let the stress of change lead to neglecting your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. With God as your anchor, you have what it takes to thrive in this new season of life!
Conclusion
As popular teacher Joyce Meyers says, ‘New seasons bring new devil.’ While shifts into unfamiliar spiritual territory can feel unsettling at first, we can take heart that God never leaves or forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
By staying close to Him through prayer, bibical wisdom and community, unpacking the symbols and themes of seasons changing empowers us to understand His vision for this next phase.
What if instead of resisting the change, we leaned into it? We can embrace the opportunity for greater intimacy with God, preparedness for new assignments, and space for a fresh work of His Spirit. When we agree with Him that it’s time for something new and choose to walk hand-in-hand wherever He leads, that partnership positions us to thrive in this exciting new era.