Hope for When Seasons Don’t Change

What do you do when seasons don’t change? If we could peel back the curtain and see the long season we are in through God’s eyes, we would understand.

Have you ever been in a season that lasted so long you thought it would never change? I’m there now.

Help. Me.

God is displaying His fresh artwork through the Fall season now, and I have been stuck potty training my three-year-old son. Since January.

The entire year has been one long season that I wish I could flush down the toilet.

I was highly optimistic when we started. Just like I had done before with my first two boys, the plan was intense toilet training for the first couple of days with the rest of the week to get any accidents under control.

I’ve done this before. Third child? Piece of cake.

This boy had the sweetest demeanor, and loved to learn anything new.

He’s going to love it!

I had forgotten that he was extremely adverse to change. He was abruptly weaned from momma’s milk when I was unexpectedly pregnant. After that, he couldn’t understand his momma’s invalid state of severe morning sickness that lasted for months. Then his baby sister arrived.

After a few days of feeling trapped in the same area of the house with potty training saturation, doubts started chipping away at my optimism. It was starting to look like a not-so-quick quest. It seemed I was more tired with each day that passed.

A couple of weeks later, I started feeling like I was in Elmo’s Potty Time prison. The movie had been played so many times that I was hearing the songs in my head all day whether they were playing or not, and even in the middle of the night when the baby woke up for her feedings.

How Long Will This Season Last?

Elmo’s distinctive laugh was coming from the furry red monster on the TV. My son was playing with the potty training Elmo doll. We had taped down a red disposable tablecloth again to protect the floor. I remember looking down at it, and groaning.

I was tired of seeing red.

How long is this going to last?! 

I confess, some days I haven’t responded so lovingly. Instead, I’ve gritted my teeth or rolled my eyes when he wasn’t looking.

All these months I’m wanting him to hurry up and get it, and move out of the training into the “big kid’s underpants.”

At the same time, I’m wanting me to hurry up and grow up and not get angry or impatient.

But what if I could peel back the curtain and see this season through God’s eyes? What would He see? How is He viewing it differently than I am? If I live yielded to God, then I need His view, not mine!

He reminds me the tarrying has a purpose.

God wants me to grow into maturity and learn His ways not mine. He is patient with me. He doesn’t grit his teeth or roll his eyes in response to my current maturity level.

Instead, He patiently teaches me and corrects me as a loving Father.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

During this season, I can grow up instead of give up. I can grow wiser instead of weary.

When Seasons Don’t Change, God Sees Your Season More Clearly

I could stare at a plant all day, but I wouldn’t see it grow. Like that plant, I may not see my growth, but He is still causing me to come into a greater spiritual maturity.

He sees what I can’t see. I’m planted by His hands and every work of His hands is only good. He is doing much more than I can conceive.

Priscilla Shirer has this to say about delays:

“There will be relationships that develop here, character that matures here, growth that occurs here. Spiritual fuel.”

When your seasons don’t change and seem to drag on forever, remember this:

God is God, and He is wise. He moves on His time table. He moves on His schedule. Father God has more for me than just surviving; He has planned spiritual growth to keep me thriving. And after all, seasons don’t last forever.

Have you ever been in a lengthy season? What did God teach you from it?

Know someone whose season hasn’t changed? Encourage them by sharing this post!