Embracing Life's Seasons with Strength and Faith
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone! Today, we explored the concept of seasons in our lives, drawing from the book of Joshua, specifically Joshua 1. As I shared, I'm entering a new season myself, and it got me thinking about how life is full of different seasons—some good, some challenging. We all experience changes, and it's crucial to understand how we react to these changes.
In Joshua 1, we see Joshua stepping into a new season after Moses' death. God speaks to Joshua, telling him to arise and lead the people into the Promised Land. This passage teaches us several key lessons about navigating the seasons of our lives. First, seasons will change whether we like it or not. Just as the natural seasons change, so do the seasons of our lives. We must be prepared for these changes and trust that God is with us through them all.
Second, God's promises often require preparation. Joshua had been prepared for this moment through his time with Moses. Similarly, God prepares us for the seasons we face, even if we don't realize it at the time. This preparation is essential for us to fulfill the purposes God has for us.
Third, the best predictor of God's future faithfulness is His past faithfulness. When we face tough seasons, we can look back at how God has been faithful in the past to reassure ourselves that He will continue to be faithful in the future.
Fourth, our lives and the seasons we go through are not just about us. God places us in certain situations to influence and help others. Our experiences, both good and bad, can be used to support and guide those around us.
Finally, we are called to be strong and courageous. God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous because he will lead the people to inherit the land. This command applies to us as well. Whatever season we are in, we must have strength and courage, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
### Key Takeaways
1. Seasons Will Change: Life is full of changing seasons, and we must be prepared for them. Whether we are in a season of joy or a season of struggle, we can trust that God is with us and that this season will eventually change. Embrace the change and seek God's guidance through it. [52:32]
2. God's Promises Require Preparation: Just as Joshua was prepared by Moses for his leadership role, God prepares us for the seasons we face. This preparation might be challenging, but it is essential for fulfilling God's purposes in our lives. Trust that God is working in you, even in the difficult times. [56:57]
3. God's Past Faithfulness Predicts His Future Faithfulness: When we face tough seasons, we can look back at how God has been faithful in the past. This reassures us that He will continue to be faithful in the future. Remembering God's past works helps us trust Him more deeply in our current circumstances. [01:01:47]
4. Our Lives Are Not Just About Us: The seasons we go through are not solely for our benefit. God places us in situations to influence and help others. Our experiences can be a source of support and guidance for those around us. Recognize that your journey can positively impact others. [01:07:13]
5. Be Strong and Courageous: God commands us to be strong and courageous, just as He commanded Joshua. This strength and courage come from knowing that God is with us every step of the way. Embrace this command and face your seasons with confidence, trusting in God's presence and guidance. [01:10:23]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[43:48] - Introduction and Personal Update
[45:19] - Seasons of Life
[46:34] - Joshua's New Season
[48:04] - God's Command to Joshua
[49:33] - Key Question: How Will You React?
[51:01] - Personal Reflections on Seasons
[52:32] - Seasons Will Change
[55:34] - God's Promises and Preparation
[56:57] - Personal Story of Preparation
[58:31] - The Importance of Preparation
[01:00:19] - God's Plan and Our Preparation
[01:01:47] - God's Faithfulness
[01:03:38] - Be Strong and Courageous
[01:05:43] - Your Life is Not Just About You
[01:07:13] - Helping Others Through Our Seasons
[01:08:50] - Influence and Impact
[01:10:23] - Final Encouragement
[01:12:32] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Joshua 1:1-9: "After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 'Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What command does God give to Joshua after the death of Moses? ([48:04])
2. How does God reassure Joshua about His presence and promises? ([48:04])
3. What are the four key lessons mentioned in the sermon about navigating the seasons of our lives? ([49:33])
4. How does the pastor describe the importance of preparation in fulfilling God's promises? ([55:34])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that God tells Joshua to "be strong and courageous"? How does this apply to the different seasons in our lives? ([48:04])
2. How can reflecting on God's past faithfulness help us trust Him in our current and future seasons? ([01:01:47])
3. In what ways can our experiences, both good and bad, be used to support and guide others? ([01:07:13])
4. What does it mean to be prepared for the seasons we face, and how can we recognize God's preparation in our lives? ([55:34])
#### Application Questions
1. Think about a recent season of change in your life. How did you react to it? What could you have done differently to trust God more during that time? ([49:33])
2. Are you currently in a season of preparation? How can you embrace this time and trust that God is working in you for a future purpose? ([55:34])
3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in the past. How can this memory help you face your current challenges with confidence? ([01:01:47])
4. Identify someone in your life who might be going through a tough season. How can you use your own experiences to support and encourage them? ([01:07:13])
5. What steps can you take to be strong and courageous in your current season, knowing that God is with you every step of the way? ([48:04])
6. How can you ensure that your life and the seasons you go through positively impact others around you? ([01:07:13])
7. When you are in a season of joy and blessing, how can you remain close to God and use this time to help others? ([54:00])
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Inevitable Change
Life is full of changing seasons, and we must be prepared for them. Whether we are in a season of joy or a season of struggle, we can trust that God is with us and that this season will eventually change. Embrace the change and seek God's guidance through it. Just as the natural seasons change, so do the seasons of our lives. We must be prepared for these changes and trust that God is with us through them all.
In Joshua 1, we see Joshua stepping into a new season after Moses' death. God speaks to Joshua, telling him to arise and lead the people into the Promised Land. This passage teaches us several key lessons about navigating the seasons of our lives. First, seasons will change whether we like it or not. We must be prepared for these changes and trust that God is with us through them all. [52:32]
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (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."
Reflection: What season of life are you currently in, and how can you seek God's guidance to navigate through it?
Day 2: Trust in God's Preparation
Just as Joshua was prepared by Moses for his leadership role, God prepares us for the seasons we face. This preparation might be challenging, but it is essential for fulfilling God's purposes in our lives. Trust that God is working in you, even in the difficult times.
Joshua had been prepared for this moment through his time with Moses. Similarly, God prepares us for the seasons we face, even if we don't realize it at the time. This preparation is essential for us to fulfill the purposes God has for us. God's promises often require preparation. [56:57]
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Can you identify a challenging time in your life that God used to prepare you for something greater? How did that preparation shape you?
Day 3: Remember God's Faithfulness
When we face tough seasons, we can look back at how God has been faithful in the past. This reassures us that He will continue to be faithful in the future. Remembering God's past works helps us trust Him more deeply in our current circumstances.
The best predictor of God's future faithfulness is His past faithfulness. When we face tough seasons, we can look back at how God has been faithful in the past to reassure ourselves that He will continue to be faithful in the future. [01:01:47]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on a specific instance where you experienced God's faithfulness. How can this memory encourage you in your current season?
Day 4: Influence and Help Others
The seasons we go through are not solely for our benefit. God places us in situations to influence and help others. Our experiences can be a source of support and guidance for those around us. Recognize that your journey can positively impact others.
Our lives and the seasons we go through are not just about us. God places us in certain situations to influence and help others. Our experiences, both good and bad, can be used to support and guide those around us. [01:07:13]
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who might be going through a difficult season. How can you use your experiences to support and encourage them today?
Day 5: Be Strong and Courageous
God commands us to be strong and courageous, just as He commanded Joshua. This strength and courage come from knowing that God is with us every step of the way. Embrace this command and face your seasons with confidence, trusting in God's presence and guidance.
God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous because he will lead the people to inherit the land. This command applies to us as well. Whatever season we are in, we must have strength and courage, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [01:10:23]
Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV): "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to be strong and courageous? How can you remind yourself of God's presence and guidance in that area?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "How many of you realize like, Hey, life changes, things happen in life. Come on. Like, like there's always, things are always changing sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad. Uh, but at the end of the day, we all have seasons of life and it's just part of it." [45:19] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Seasons are going to change whether we like it or not. Seasons will change whether you like it or not. Just like we talked about a little while ago, the fall, the winter, there's nothing we can do to stop the seasons from changing, even if spring is like three weeks in Texas or three minutes." [52:32] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Maybe God is prepping you right now for some stuff he's got you pulled out of the fridge a little bit he's got you sitting simmering he's got you sitting and he's got you sitting spending some time on some stuff because you're intended for a good purpose just like that steak is intended to be good inside my belly you're intended for a good purpose but that requires some preparation." [58:31] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The best predictor of God's future faithfulness is his past and what I mean by that is this is that when we start to question who God is and it does God love and does God care and and who is God go look at what he has done and you'll believe what he will do." [01:01:47] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Your life, your calling, your abilities, everything that God has given you, your season is not just about you. Do you realize that God has put you in a place, whether it's one person or 100, that you have influence on people around you? There are people that are around you and whatever's going on, it's not just to benefit you." [01:05:43] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "What I want you to understand this morning is, like I said, our big point was that things are going to change. How will you react? Wherever you're at, realize like if you are in that tough season this morning, if you're down and you feel down and out, hey, we'll get better. It's not over with. So be looking to God for that." [54:00] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Whatever season you're in right now God has prepared you for it whether or not you realize it or not and not only has he prepared you for it the season you're in right now he is preparing you for something else." [55:34] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Being a follower of Christ doesn't mean it gets easy. It means that we're made to help other people. It's like this. I hear people say this all the time. The best person to walk somebody through something is somebody who's already been through it. You can win because guess what? I know how you feel. I know words to use that are going to help you." [01:07:13] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Maybe, if you're having a hard time living and being in this certain season of your life right now, maybe it's because you're focused on, well, what's this doing for me? Instead, it needs to be, God, what are you really trying to show me? What are you trying to teach me? Pay attention to those things." [01:08:50] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Strength, courage. Don't be timid, and don't get discouraged. And let that be my word to you this morning. Maybe it's a word that whatever season you're in right now, strength, courage. Don't be timid about it, and don't get discouraged this season. Learn from this season. Embrace this season. Ask God and seek God of what is he trying to show you?" [01:10:23] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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