Finding Strength When Seasons Change
By Lucy Kyllonen
We are here in a new season. School is out, and summer is here. No more morning traffic or rushing out the door. Our little ones get a break from the daily routine of school. It’s a welcome change of pace—longer days, warm (more like HOT) sunshine, and hopefully, a little more rest.
But we know this season is temporary. In just a few months, it will shift again—school will be back in session, routines will pick up, and summer will quietly fade into fall. It’s easy to plan when we know the season we’re in and the next one coming.
But what about when seasons change without notice?
What do we do when we wake up and the life we knew has been flipped upside down—when a loved one passes away unexpectedly, when a job loss blindsides us, or when a doctor’s report leaves us speechless and afraid?
How do we handle those seasons?
The Unseen Seasons of Life
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says:
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
We love the seasons that feel predictable and comfortable. But life, in all its complexity, reminds us that we don’t get to choose the seasons we walk through.
Sometimes the weather of life shifts without warning. The skies darken, the winds pick up, and we find ourselves in a storm we didn’t see coming.
It reminds me of the story of Job—a man who was blameless and upright, yet he experienced one devastating season after another. Job’s seasons changed in an instant:
His wealth was lost.
His family was taken.
His health failed.
Yet Job’s story teaches us that even when we don’t understand the season, we can trust the One who holds it.
Holding On When the Season Feels Unbearable
When seasons change without warning, it’s tempting to try to control the situation, to fix it, or to figure out what went wrong. But there are some seasons that cannot be fixed—only endured with faith and trust.
Isaiah 43:2 promises us:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”
Not if—but when. Seasons of hardship will come, but they do not define us. They refine us.
Like a tree in winter, stripped bare and still, we may feel unfruitful, forgotten, or left behind. But God is at work in every season. Even when it looks like nothing is happening, the roots are growing deeper, preparing for the next season of growth.
What Do We Do When Seasons Change Without Warning?
Here are three simple reminders for navigating the seasons you didn’t see coming:
1. Stay Planted in the Word.
Psalm 1:3 says:
“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”
Even in unexpected seasons, God’s Word sustains us. Stay rooted in Him.
2. Lean Into Community.
We weren’t meant to weather seasons alone. Galatians 6:2 reminds us:
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Find your people—your tribe. Let others help you carry the weight.
3. Trust the Gardener.
John 15:1-2 reminds us that God is the gardener of our lives:
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
Pruning is painful, but it leads to greater growth. Trust His timing, even when it feels like loss.
A Final Encouragement
Seasons change—sometimes with warning, sometimes without. But God never changes. Hebrews 13:8 says:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Whatever season you find yourself in—whether it’s a season of rest, waiting, loss, or unexpected change—know that God is with you. He is working in the hidden places, in the dark soil, preparing you for what’s next.
So breathe deep, dear sister. Be still. And remember: even when you don’t know what tomorrow holds, hold on to the One who holds tomorrow!
Would you like to go deeper?
If you’re curious about what season you’re in spiritually—and how to navigate it with wisdom and grace—I invite you to read:
Ways to Identify Your Spiritual Season.
It’s a deeper dive into how God uses every season in our lives—Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn—for a purpose.
Discover how to recognize your spiritual season, what God might be doing in it, and how to respond well.
