Embracing Life's Seasons with Faith and Endurance

Life is a journey of shifting seasons—times of joy and sorrow, beginnings and endings, holding on and letting go. Each season brings its own challenges and opportunities, and none of them last forever. The wisdom of Ecclesiastes reminds us that for everything there is a season, and Hebrews calls us to run our race with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Through the stories of James and Joseph, we see that even when life doesn’t go according to our plans, God is present, working in the silence, the loss, and the unexpected transitions. Sometimes, what feels like a pause or a setback is actually God’s preparation for what’s next.

We are called to lay aside every weight—not just sin, but also the burdens of guilt, shame, resentment, and the illusion of control. Not every burden is bad, but not every burden is ours to carry. Like a runner who cannot finish the race with a backpack full of bricks, we must learn to let go of what is not ours so we can run with endurance. Life’s transitions are not to be cursed but trusted, for God is the God of every transition. We are invited to live with intention, to choose our responses, and to work our season rather than waste it. Even in pain, we can find progress if we reflect and allow our perspective to shift.

Motivation comes not from applause or comfort, but from faith in a God who is faithful in every season. Endurance is not about knowing the outcome, but about trusting the One who does. Joseph’s story teaches us that we don’t have to correct every lie or control every outcome; we simply endure, trusting that God is working all things for our good. The acronym TIME—Transition, Intention, Motivation, Endurance—offers a way to navigate life’s seasons. We hold on to faith, hope, and endurance, and let go of fear, bitterness, and the need for control. When we place our lives in God’s hands, we do not lose; we win. The seasons may shift, but our Savior remains steady. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and trust that God will carry you through every season.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Embrace the Sacred Rhythm of Seasons Life is made up of ever-changing seasons—joy and grief, beginnings and endings, holding on and letting go. Each season has its purpose, and none are permanent. Rather than resisting change, we are called to trust that God is present and faithful in every transition, weaving all things together for our good. [06:47]
• 2. Let Go of Unnecessary Weights We often carry burdens—guilt, shame, resentment, and the illusion of control—that were never meant for us. Not every weight is wicked, but every weight can wear us down and keep us from running our race well. Learning to release what is not ours to carry is essential for spiritual endurance and freedom. [13:32]
• 3. Live with Intention, Not Drift Life does not just happen to us; we are invited to live with intention and purpose. Even in difficult seasons, we have the power to choose our perspective and response. Working our season with intention transforms obstacles into opportunities for growth and allows God to use every moment for our good. [22:47]
• 4. Motivation Rooted in Faith, Not Applause True motivation comes from faith in God’s faithfulness, not from external validation or comfort. Like Joseph, we may not see the whole picture, but we trust the One who does. Pain, when reflected upon, can become the very thing that propels us forward, turning struggle into progress and even miracles. [27:28]
• 5. Endure by Trusting God with the Outcome Endurance is not about knowing how things will turn out, but about embracing reality and trusting God in the midst of it. Joseph endured betrayal, false accusation, and being forgotten, yet he did not try to control the narrative or escape his reality. Endurance means facing life honestly, letting go of what we cannot control, and fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured the cross and now sits at the right hand of God. [30:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:54] - Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3
• [01:36] - A Time for Every Season
• [02:50] - Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12
• [03:27] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
• [04:07] - Opening Prayer
• [04:50] - The Sacred Rhythm of Life
• [06:47] - Seasons of Change and God’s Faithfulness
• [07:32] - The Story of James: Meeting God in Loss
• [08:51] - Joseph: Faithful in Every Season
• [10:55] - Fixing Our Eyes on the Real Jesus
• [12:49] - Laying Aside Every Weight
• [14:54] - Letting Go of Control
• [18:53] - The TIME Acronym: Transition, Intention, Motivation, Endurance
• [19:29] - T: Transition
• [20:47] - I: Intention
• [24:45] - Living with Intention
• [26:44] - M: Motivation
• [28:45] - E: Endurance
• [32:11] - Hold On and Let Go
• [33:27] - The Steadfast Savior
• [34:07] - Closing and Prayer
• [34:47] - Farewell and Announcements

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.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV) — > Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
> Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ecclesiastes 3, what are some of the different “seasons” or times that are mentioned? How do these reflect the ups and downs of real life?
2. In Hebrews 12, what does the writer say we should “lay aside” in order to run our race with endurance?
3. The sermon described Joseph’s journey through the pit, the prison, and the palace. What did Joseph do in each season that showed his faithfulness? [09:32]
4. The pastor mentioned that not every weight is wicked, but every weight can wear us down. What are some examples of “weights” that were discussed in the sermon? [13:32]

Interpretation Questions

1. The writer of Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything. What does this teach about how we should view change and transition in our lives?
2. Hebrews 12 tells us to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” According to the sermon, what does it mean to fix our eyes on Jesus, especially when life is hard? [10:55]
3. The sermon talked about letting go of the illusion of control. Why is it so hard to let go of control, and what does it look like to trust God in the middle of uncertainty? [15:37]
4. Joseph didn’t try to correct every lie or control every outcome. What can we learn from his example about how to respond when we are misunderstood or treated unfairly? [28:45]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “Not every burden is bad, but not every burden is yours to carry.” Is there a burden you are carrying right now that you need to let go of? What would it look like to lay it down? [13:32]
2. Think about a recent transition or change in your life. Did you find yourself resisting it, or were you able to trust God in the process? What helped or hindered you? [20:06]
3. The acronym TIME stands for Transition, Intention, Motivation, and Endurance. Which of these do you find most challenging in your current season, and why? [18:53]
4. The pastor said, “Don’t waste your season. Work your season.” What is one practical way you can be intentional about your current season, even if it’s difficult? [25:26]
5. Motivation comes from faith, not applause. Are there areas in your life where you are seeking approval from others instead of trusting God’s faithfulness? How can you shift your motivation? [26:44]
6. Joseph endured betrayal, false accusation, and being forgotten, but he kept trusting God. When have you faced a situation where you had to endure without knowing the outcome? How did you keep going? [30:50]
7. The sermon encouraged us to “hold on to faith, hope, and endurance, and let go of fear, bitterness, and the need for control.” Which of these is hardest for you to let go of, and what step could you take this week to trust God more? [32:11]