Ecclesiastes 3:1, Genesis 1:14, Psalm 37:23

Josiah Parr considers the importance of knowing what season you are in.

Josiah Parr

'There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.' (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Growing up in Australia there seemed to be only two seasons, summer and then what Australia calls winter when it's slightly cooler, cool enough for everyone to get out their winter fashion accessories.

After living in the United Kingdom for almost 14 years I recognise that what Australia called winter wasn't really winter. In the same way what England calls summer is not a true indication of what summer is supposed to be!

A few years after moving to the UK, I took our youth away for 'summer camp'. Each day I would post photos on Facebook and I received a perplexed comment from a friend in Australia who said, "Your caption reads summer camp. Why is everyone wearing jeans, hoodies and coats?" What could I say?

Define your season. Is it a season to sow, or to reap? A time to press in, or pull back?

Whatever your season may be, God is the ever present help in times of need and He will help you to know what you need to do in this season of life.

'Then God said let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days and years!' (Genesis 1:14)

Right at the beginning God was bringing definition so we could clearly see and understand what season, year, or day we were in. Definition helps us to see more clearly and informs us of the best way forward.

Allow God to guide you. 'The steps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord.' (Psalm 37:23) When you don't know what you need to do, or where you need to go, you can trust that God has a way to help you through whatever you may face.

When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River it was a clear change in season. They had wandered the desert for 40 years and a whole generation had passed away. Moses had passed leadership to Joshua and now it was time to go into the new thing. They crossed over the Jordan by stepping into the river, which was completely different from how they had crossed the Red Sea; there were new miracles God had for them in that season. It was definitely scary and difficult to navigate, but they trusted in God and He led them forward.

God will be with you whatever you face today, this year or season!