The Five Seasons of a Great Life (What season are you in right now?)

Part One

Have you ever considered that your life is a journey through different seasons? Your life is not just a meaningless series of ups and downs but rather an evolution of you becoming all you were designed and meant to be!

Of course, when it comes to the seasons of life, one can evolve into a wiser person who grows closer and closer to their creator through each season or one can chose to waste each season and keep repeating the same bad habits and learn nothing. One path leads to a more intimate relationship with God and a rich and full life, and the other path leads to alienation from the Great Designer along with disappointment, disillusionment and ultimately to despair.

Whatever season you may be in right now, God wants to use it to draw you closer to Himself, make you wiser, use you to make a difference and prepare you for the next season as you fulfill your purpose!

King David was the most famous King of Israel and became one of the greatest leaders, most popular heroes and wealthiest people in the world at the time of his reign. Even though he lived 3,000 years ago, he is still revered to this day as the greatest King whoever sat on the throne of Israel. In fact, a thousand years after David’s reign as King, Luke writes in the book of Acts that “David fulfilled his purpose in his generation.” This is the highest compliment I think you can give someone.

But his life wasn’t always easy as it was no cake walk to go from shepherd boy to famous King. In fact, his life appeared more like a season in Game of Thrones than the meek and mild Bible story you may have learned in Sunday School. But King David went through five distinct seasons on his life journey to fulfill his purpose.

You may think you have absolutely nothing in common with the David of the Bible. But let’s take a look at the five seasons of David’s great life and see if you can see some similarities between his life seasons and yours. I’m willing to bet you can learn some lessons from the seasons he went through that may help you in the journey through your life seasons. This month, we will look at the first two seasons of David’s great life and see what we can learn and apply.

Season One

The Bethlehem Season - Be faithful in small things.

David was raised in Bethlehem by his father Jesse. David’s job as the youngest one of Jesse’s eight sons was to shepherd the sheep and the goats of the family. It was the humble job nobody else wanted. As the lowest possible job you could get, it involved being alone for weeks and months at a time in the wilderness. It could also be quite dangerous as there were lions, wolves and bears that lived in Israel in those days, and they would often attack the sheep. It was the shepherds job to protect them. Importantly, in this season, David learned to be faithful in small things and to simply do his job.

It was in Bethlehem that the great prophet Samuel came to visit Jesse’s house and anointed young David to be the future King of Israel. You might want to read this complete story in 1 Samuel 16:1-13. David was only 17 at the time and it would be many years before David would actually sit on the throne. It was a prophetic gesture on the part of Samuel that would eventually prove true. Meanwhile, however, David remained a faithful shepherd after his anointed purpose had been revealed. Some of the lessons we learn from David in this season are very simple but so true: We honor God when we simply do our job and do it well - 1. Work hard 2. Be honest 3.Pay your dues (and your bills) and 4. Be faithful.

Maybe you are in a Bethlehem Season right now where God is calling you simply to be faithful in the small, simple tasks. Be encouraged in this season of your life and remain faithful in the small things, and God will bless you with even greater opportunities.

Season Two

The Gibeah Season - The Test of Early Success.

If you want to truly test someones character then give them success, power and honor. Some people say that failure is the true test of character, but I think it is a greater test to give them success. Success will reveal a persons true colors like nothing else. In 1 Samuel chapter 17, you can read all about the battle between David and Goliath. David was the young armor bearer for King Saul at this point and lived in the Capital City of Gibeah.

During this time, when David was about 18, the armies of the Israelites and the Philistines were faced off in the Valley of Elah. The Israelites camped on one side of the valley and the Philistines on the other. A giant named Goliath was a soldier in the Philistine army who came out to challenge the Israelite soldiers to a one on one duel each day for 40 days on the battle field, but none of the Israelites would go out to fight him in fear of his nine foot tall stature and his well known attributes as a fighter. No one had ever beaten him.

One day David came to the battle front to bring supplies to the Israelite army and his brothers, and there, at the front lines, he heard Goliath taunting the Israelite soldiers. David was embarrassed that no one would go out to fight the giant. So, he volunteered. All the experienced soldiers called him a fool and even his own brothers criticized him. But David went to King Saul and asked his permission to fight Goliath. The King had no one else willing to fight him so he agreed to let David face off with the big man.

Well, you probably know what happens next. David refused to wear King Sauls armor, and he would not even carry the Kings sword, shield or spear. Rather, David elected to wear his regular clothes and carry nothing but a slingshot into battle with the giant. He had used this same slingshot to kill bears, wolves and lions as a shepherd. He would fight with the unique gifts God had already given him and not try to look like or act like someone or something that he was not.

Some lessons we can learn from David in this season where we face a daunting challenge and an opportunity for success.

Though David was young and inexperienced, he didn’t let that stop him.

David focused on the rewards not the difficulties of the challenge. The rewards were great for whoever defeated Goliath. Marry the Kings daughter, inherit great wealth, and never pay taxes again. Not bad!

David didn’t listen to the critics. Sometimes your friends and your enemies can be the most negative voices around you. If God has gifted you and called you to a particular task, remain undaunted and don’t listen to the naysayers.

David didn’t let the size of the task or the size of Goliath intimidate him. While others were saying, “he is so big I can’t win.” David was saying, “he is so big I can’t miss.”

David was eager to face the challenge. In 1 Samuel 17: 48, it says “David ran quickly toward the battle line...” Once you decide God has called you to the challenge then run eagerly toward the battle or the task.

David remained humble even though defeating Goliath made him the most popular and famous person in all of Israel at the time. After the famous David and Goliath battle, the people sang his praises and even wrote songs about him for many years to come. But David continued to anchor his soul in the Lord not in the praises of people!

In next months Faith Gazette, we will look at the last three seasons of David’s life and see what we can learn and apply to our own life seasons!

Remember, no matter what season of life you are in right now, God has a plan for you so look for the divine patterns in this season and see what God may want to teach you as the Lord seeks to draw you closer to Himself and prepares you to fulfill your purpose in your generation.

Whatever season you are in right now, I’m praying for you!