Embracing Life's Seasons: Trusting God's Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: God Works Through Every Season of Our Lives

Life is made up of many seasons—some joyful, some painful, and some confusing—but in each one, God is at work, weaving together the events of our lives for a greater purpose. Just as the tapestry illustration shows, what may look like a mess from our perspective is being shaped by God into something beautiful, even when we cannot see the full picture. There is a time for everything, and every season under heaven has its place in God's plan, whether it is a time to weep or a time to laugh, a time to mourn or a time to dance. Trust that God is present and active in every season, using each moment to shape you for His glory. [43:41]

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Reflection: What season are you currently in, and how might God be inviting you to trust Him with both the joys and the challenges of this time?

Day 2: God’s Presence Remains in the Pit, Prison, and Palace

No matter where you find yourself—whether in a pit of despair, a prison of circumstances, or a palace of blessing—God’s presence never leaves you. Joseph’s life is a testimony that God is with us in every place, even when we are falsely accused, rejected, or forgotten. The Lord was with Joseph in the pit, in Potiphar’s house, in prison, and in the palace, granting him favor and shaping his character through every trial. Remember, your current situation does not determine God’s nearness; He is with you, working for your good, even when you cannot see it. [01:10:25]

Genesis 39:2-4, 21-23 (ESV)
The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. ... But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel stuck or forgotten, and how can you look for signs of God’s presence and favor even there?

Day 3: God Redeems Our Pain for His Purpose

God does not waste our hurts or the difficult seasons we endure; instead, He uses them to accomplish His greater purpose in our lives and the lives of others. Joseph’s story shows that what others intend for harm, God can turn for good, using even betrayal, injustice, and suffering to bring about salvation and blessing. When we look back, we often see how God was working through the mess to bring about something beautiful and redemptive. Trust that God is using your current struggles to prepare you for what He has planned, and that nothing is beyond His ability to redeem. [52:04]

Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Reflection: Think of a painful experience in your past—how might God have used, or be using, that experience to shape you or bless others?

Day 4: Forgiveness Releases God’s Healing and Grace

Forgiveness is not just about letting others off the hook; it is about releasing yourself from bitterness and allowing God’s healing to flow through you. Joseph forgave his brothers who betrayed him, showing them mercy and grace instead of revenge. In doing so, he reflected the heart of Christ, who forgave those who crucified Him. Holding onto unforgiveness only makes us bitter, but choosing to forgive opens the door for God’s restoration and peace in our hearts. [01:19:44]

Genesis 45:4-5 (NIV)
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive today—perhaps even yourself—and what step can you take to begin releasing that bitterness to God?

Day 5: God Will Complete the Good Work He Began in You

No matter what season you are in or how unfinished your story feels, God is faithful to complete the good work He started in your life. He is always working, even when you cannot see the outcome, and His plans for you are for hope and a future. Whether you are in a pit, a prison, or a palace, you can be confident that God will carry you through and bring His purposes to fulfillment. Trust in His faithfulness and keep your eyes on Him, knowing that He is not finished with you yet. [01:25:52]

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust that God is still working, even if you cannot see the results yet?

Sermon Summary

Life is a journey marked by seasons—some joyful, some painful, and many that feel confusing or even chaotic. Often, we look back and call certain times “the good old days,” forgetting that even those seasons had their share of struggles. In the moment, it’s easy to miss the significance of what God is doing because we only see the tangled threads of our current circumstances. Yet, just as a tapestry looks messy from the back but reveals a beautiful design from the front, God is weaving something purposeful in our lives, even when we can’t see it.

Scripture teaches that there is a time and season for everything under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Our lives are not static; we move through times of planting and harvest, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing. God’s faithfulness remains constant, even as our circumstances change. The story of Joseph is a powerful example of this truth. Joseph’s life was a roller coaster—favored son, betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned, and finally elevated to a position of great authority. Through it all, God was with him, using every season—good and bad—to accomplish a greater purpose.

When we find ourselves in a pit, whether by the actions of others or circumstances beyond our control, it’s tempting to despair. But God uses even these low points to prepare us for what’s ahead. The pressure and pain we experience are not wasted; they are the very means by which God shapes our character and prepares us for greater things. In the prison seasons—those places where we feel stuck or forgotten—God’s presence sustains us. He is working in ways we cannot see, orchestrating events for our good and His glory.

Joseph’s story also teaches us the power of forgiveness. When given the chance to take revenge on his brothers, Joseph chose mercy and grace, recognizing that God had used even their betrayal to bring about salvation for many. Unforgiveness only makes us bitter, but forgiveness releases healing and allows God’s purposes to flourish in our lives.

Ultimately, God is in control. His plans will prevail, even when we don’t understand the process. We can be confident that He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion. Whether we are in the pit, the prison, or the palace, God is with us, working all things together for good.

Key Takeaways

1. God Works Through Every Season, Even the Messy Ones Life’s seasons are not always clear or comfortable, but God is present and active in each one. Like the tangled threads of a tapestry, our current struggles may not make sense, but God is crafting something beautiful that will be revealed in time. Trusting Him in the confusion is an act of faith that shapes our character and deepens our relationship with Him. [49:40]
2. The Pit is Preparation, Not Punishment Sometimes we find ourselves in difficult places through no fault of our own—betrayed, rejected, or misunderstood. These “pit” experiences are not wasted; God uses them to prepare us for future purpose and promotion. The pressure we feel is often the very thing God uses to form resilience and faith within us. [66:35]
3. God’s Presence Sustains Us in the Prison Seasons There are times when we feel stuck, forgotten, or falsely accused, much like Joseph in prison. Yet, even in these places, God’s presence never leaves us. These seasons are temporary classrooms where God refines our character and teaches us to rely on Him, not our circumstances. [70:25]
4. Forgiveness Releases God’s Healing and Purpose Holding onto bitterness and unforgiveness only poisons our own hearts. Joseph’s willingness to forgive his brothers opened the door for God’s greater plan to unfold. When we choose mercy and grace, we not only free ourselves from bitterness but also participate in God’s redemptive work in the world. [81:37]
5. God’s Plan Will Prevail—Trust the Process We may not understand why we are in a particular season, but God is always at work for our good and His glory. He uses every experience—the good, the bad, and the ugly—to accomplish His purpose. Our confidence rests in His faithfulness to complete the work He has begun in us, no matter what season we are in. [85:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:32] - Greetings and Announcements
[05:50] - Offering and Thanksgiving Scriptures
[08:12] - Call to Worship and Opening Prayer
[09:31] - Worship and Praise
[38:03] - Proclamation and Blessing
[39:30] - Children’s Dismissal and Introduction
[41:27] - Remembering the Good Old Days
[43:11] - Ecclesiastes 3: Seasons of Life
[47:31] - The Tapestry Illustration
[51:01] - Joseph’s Story: From Pit to Palace
[55:33] - God’s Faithfulness in Our Pain
[57:01] - God Works All Things for Good
[58:52] - Joseph’s Family Dynamics
[66:35] - The Pit as Preparation
[70:25] - God’s Presence in Prison
[72:52] - God’s Promotion to the Palace
[78:02] - Forgiveness and Healing
[82:45] - God’s Purpose in Every Season
[85:52] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
[86:47] - Final Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (ESV) — > For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
> a time to be born, and a time to die;
> a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
> a time to kill, and a time to heal;
> a time to break down, and a time to build up;
> a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
> a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
> a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
> a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
> a time to seek, and a time to lose;
> a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
> a time to tear, and a time to sew;
> a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
> a time to love, and a time to hate;
> a time for war, and a time for peace.

Genesis 50:20 (ESV) — > As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Romans 8:28 (ESV) — > And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Observation Questions

According to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, what are some of the different seasons or experiences that people go through in life?
In Genesis 50:20, what does Joseph say about the harm his brothers intended for him? How does he interpret what happened? [52:04]
What does Romans 8:28 promise about the things that happen in the lives of those who love God?
In the sermon, what illustration was used to describe how our lives can look messy now, but God is creating something beautiful? [47:31]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God allows us to go through both good and difficult seasons in life? How does this relate to the tapestry illustration from the sermon? [49:40]
Joseph experienced betrayal, false accusation, and imprisonment. How did these “pit” and “prison” seasons prepare him for his future? [01:06:35]
The sermon said that “the pit is preparation, not punishment.” What does this mean for how we view our own hard times? [01:06:35]
Joseph chose to forgive his brothers instead of taking revenge. What does this teach us about the connection between forgiveness and God’s bigger purpose? [01:21:37]

Application Questions

The sermon mentioned that we often look back and call certain times “the good old days,” forgetting the struggles we faced then. Is there a season in your life you now see differently than when you were in it? How does that change your perspective on your current season? [41:54]
When you are in a “pit” or “prison” season—feeling stuck, betrayed, or forgotten—what is one practical way you can remind yourself that God is still with you and working for your good? [01:10:25]
The tapestry illustration showed that life can look like a mess from our side, but God is weaving something beautiful. Is there an area of your life right now that feels especially tangled or confusing? How can you trust God with that area this week? [49:40]
Joseph’s story shows that forgiveness releases healing and allows God’s purposes to flourish. Is there someone you need to forgive, or a situation where you need to let go of bitterness? What step could you take toward forgiveness this week? [01:21:37]
The sermon said, “God’s plan will prevail—trust the process.” What is one area where you struggle to trust God’s process? What would it look like to take a step of faith in that area? [01:25:19]
When have you seen God use a difficult or painful season in your life for good, either for you or for someone else? How did that experience shape your faith? [52:25]
The story of Joseph reminds us that God is with us in the pit, the prison, and the palace. Which of these “places” do you feel like you are in right now? How can your small group pray for you or support you in this season? [01:25:52]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What are the seasons described in Ecclesiastes 3?

How does God use pits and prisons in life?

What is the importance of forgiveness and mercy?