Shadows of Hope: Embracing New Seasons in God
Summary
Life is full of seasons—some marked by joy, others by loss, disappointment, or even failure. It’s easy to find ourselves sitting in the “ashes” of what once was, wearing the garments of grief or regret, and if we’re not careful, what was meant to be a moment of mourning can become a season, and that season can turn into a lifetime. Each of us casts a shadow, and the nature of that shadow is determined by what overshadows us. Sometimes, we’re overshadowed by God’s presence, and other times by our pain, disappointment, or bitterness. The question is: what are we allowing to overshadow us, and what kind of shadow are we casting on those around us?
Scripture is full of imagery about shadows. Our lives are described as fleeting shadows, here for a moment and gone the next. Yet, there is also the promise of being hidden, sheltered, and given rest in the shadow of God’s wings. The shadow of God is a place of safety, joy, and renewal. When we live under His shadow, we are transformed, and the shadow we cast becomes one of hope, healing, and life for others.
Biblical examples like Bezalel, Isaiah, Mary, and Peter show us what it means to be overshadowed by God’s Spirit. Bezalel, whose name means “in the shadow of God,” was empowered to create beauty. Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, and something miraculous was birthed. Peter, so filled with God’s presence, that even his shadow brought healing. These stories remind us that when we are overshadowed by God, we become vessels of His presence, and our very proximity can bring life to others.
But there’s a warning: if we allow grief, disappointment, or bitterness to overshadow us, that becomes the shadow we cast. The sackcloth and ashes of the Old Testament were meant for a moment of repentance or mourning, not a permanent identity. There comes a time to remove the garments of a past season, to let God wash off the ashes, and to step into the new day He is bringing. This requires intentionality—sometimes even a physical act to symbolize a spiritual shift.
God is inviting us to remember who we are, to let go of what no longer serves us, and to step into the new season He has prepared. As we do, we become people who carry His presence, casting a shadow of hope, healing, and restoration wherever we go.
Key Takeaways
- The Shadow You Live Under Determines the Shadow You Cast
What overshadows your life—God’s presence or your pain—will inevitably shape the atmosphere you create for others. If you remain in the shadow of disappointment or bitterness, that becomes the environment you bring into every room. But when you intentionally dwell in the shadow of the Almighty, you become a source of shelter, rest, and joy for those around you. The shadow you cast is a direct reflection of what you allow to overshadow you. [05:50]
- Grief and Disappointment Are Real, But They Are Not Meant to Be Permanent Garments
Seasons of loss, sorrow, and even failure are part of the human experience, and God is big enough to walk with us through them. However, if we cling to the ashes of a past season, what was meant to be a moment of mourning can become a lifelong identity. There comes a time to intentionally remove the sackcloth and ashes, allowing God to wash us clean and prepare us for what’s next. [28:28]
- Being Overshadowed by God Empowers Us to Create Beauty and Bring Life
Biblical figures like Bezalel, Mary, and Peter show that when God’s Spirit overshadows us, we are empowered to do what we could never do on our own. Bezalel created beauty, Mary birthed the miraculous, and Peter’s very shadow brought healing. Living under God’s shadow means we become conduits of His presence, and our lives can be encounters with God for others. [13:23]
- Worship and Praise Are Pathways Out of the Ashes
When the apostles found themselves beaten and imprisoned, they chose to worship rather than focus on their circumstances. Worship shifts our focus from ourselves and our pain to the goodness and faithfulness of God. It is often in the act of worship—especially when we don’t feel like it—that God meets us, brings healing, and ushers in a new season. [36:17]
- Stepping Into a New Season Requires Intentional Action
Sometimes, moving forward means doing something physical to symbolize a spiritual reality—removing the garments of a past season, sweeping out the ashes, or simply changing our posture. God often invites us to cooperate with Him by taking a step of faith, even before we see the breakthrough. The manifestation of a new season often begins when we move first, aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with God’s promises. [41:36]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - The Danger of Living in the Ashes
[01:17] - What Overshadows You?
[02:28] - Divine Appointments and Casting Shadows
[03:39] - Shadows in Scripture: Life’s Fleeting Nature
[04:42] - The Benefits of God’s Shadow
[05:50] - What Shadow Do Others Experience From You?
[06:36] - Old Testament Examples: Bezalel and Isaiah
[10:26] - The New Testament: God’s Shadow Within
[11:22] - The Overshadowing of Mary and Peter
[14:05] - Demonstration: The Power of a Shadow
[19:10] - When Other Things Overshadow Us
[20:43] - Sackcloth and Ashes: Mourning and Repentance
[28:28] - When a Moment Becomes a Lifetime
[32:38] - Removing the Garments of a Past Season
[34:24] - Remembering Who We Are
[36:17] - Worship as a Key to Breakthrough
[41:36] - Stepping Into a New Season
[45:57] - Resting in the Shadow of His Wings
[47:34] - Declaring a New Day and Restoration
[49:35] - Sweeping Out the Old, Welcoming the New
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Living in the Shadow of God
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### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 91:1
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."
2. Luke 1:35
"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'"
3. Acts 5:15
"As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by."
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### Observation Questions
1. In Psalm 91:1, what does it mean to "rest in the shadow of the Almighty"? What kind of imagery does this bring to mind?
2. According to Luke 1:35, what happened when Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit? What was the result of that encounter?
3. In Acts 5:15, what did people hope would happen when Peter’s shadow fell on the sick? What does this say about their faith and expectation?
4. The sermon described how people in the Old Testament would put on sackcloth and sit in ashes during times of mourning or repentance. What was the purpose of this practice? ([21:44])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon said, "The shadow you live under determines the shadow you cast." What does this mean in practical terms for a believer’s daily life? ([05:50])
2. Why do you think God used the image of His "shadow" as a place of shelter, rest, and joy in the Psalms? How does this compare to the shadows of grief or disappointment we sometimes live under? ([05:17])
3. The sermon gave examples of Bezalel, Mary, and Peter being overshadowed by God’s Spirit. What do these stories teach us about what happens when we allow God to overshadow us? ([13:23])
4. The pastor mentioned that grief and disappointment are real, but they are not meant to be permanent garments. Why is it important to recognize when a season of mourning has become a way of life? ([28:28])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenged us to consider: "What are we allowing to overshadow us, and what kind of shadow are we casting on those around us?" Take a moment to reflect—what has been overshadowing you lately? How has that affected your relationships or the atmosphere you bring into a room? ([05:50])
2. Is there an area of your life where you feel like you’re still wearing the "sackcloth and ashes" of a past season—maybe grief, disappointment, or regret? What would it look like for you to intentionally remove those garments and let God wash you clean? ([32:38])
3. The sermon described worship and praise as a pathway out of the ashes. When was the last time you chose to worship God in the middle of a hard season? What happened as a result? ([36:17])
4. The pastor suggested sometimes we need to do something physical to symbolize a spiritual shift—like removing old garments or sweeping out the ashes. Is there a practical step you could take this week to mark a new season in your life? What might that look like for you? ([41:36])
5. Think about the people who live in your "shadow"—family, friends, coworkers. What do you hope they experience when they are around you? Is there anything you want to change so that your presence brings more hope, healing, or life to others? ([05:50])
6. The sermon said, "God is inviting us to remember who we are, to let go of what no longer serves us, and to step into the new season He has prepared." What is one thing you sense God is asking you to let go of, and what is one thing He is inviting you to step into? ([34:24])
7. The pastor talked about the importance of aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with God’s promises. Is there a specific promise from God you need to start declaring over your life? How can you make this a regular practice? ([42:40])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to spend a few moments in quiet reflection, asking God to reveal anything they need to let go of and to help them step into the new season He has for them. Encourage anyone who feels comfortable to share what God is speaking to them.
Devotional
Day 1: Living Under and Casting a Shadow
Every person lives under a shadow and casts a shadow, whether they realize it or not. The shadow that overshadows us—be it God’s presence, our disappointments, or our past—inevitably shapes the shadow we cast on others. Our words, actions, and attitudes can either bring life, shelter, and joy to those around us, or they can spread anxiety, fear, and discouragement. The invitation is to become aware of what is overshadowing us and to intentionally seek to live under the shadow of God, so that our presence brings His goodness wherever we go. [02:28]
Acts 20:24 (NLT)
"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."
Reflection: Who in your life is living in your shadow right now, and what do you think they experience when they are around you? How can you intentionally bring God’s goodness into their lives today?
Day 2: The Shelter and Rest Found in God’s Shadow
Scripture describes the shadow of God as a place of shelter, safety, rest, and joy. When we choose to dwell in His presence, we find ourselves hidden and protected, able to rest even in the midst of chaos. This divine overshadowing is not just for our comfort, but also becomes the source from which we can offer shelter and encouragement to others. As we rest in the shadow of His wings, we are invited to let His presence transform us and become a refuge for those around us. [05:17]
Psalm 91:1 (ESV)
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to experience God’s shelter and rest today? How can you make space to intentionally dwell in His presence?
Day 3: Removing the Sackcloth and Ashes of Past Seasons
There are times when grief, disappointment, or failure overshadow us, and what was meant to be a moment of mourning can become a season—or even a lifetime—if we are not careful. God understands our pain and walks with us through it, but He also calls us to eventually remove the garments of sorrow and let go of the ashes of the past. This act of faith—choosing to step out of old disappointments and into a new season—opens us up to His healing and the new things He wants to do in and through us. [28:28]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: Is there a disappointment, loss, or regret from a past season that you are still carrying? What would it look like to symbolically “remove the sackcloth and ashes” and trust God for a new beginning today?
Day 4: Worship as the Key to Breakthrough and Identity
Worship has the power to shift our focus from ourselves and our circumstances to the goodness and faithfulness of God. Even when the outcome is uncertain or disappointing, choosing to worship in the midst of pain becomes a seedbed for God to move and for our hearts to be realigned with His. In worship, we remember who we are and whose we are, and we invite His presence to bring healing, hope, and restoration. [36:17]
Acts 16:25-26 (ESV)
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened."
Reflection: What is one way you can choose to worship God today, even if you are still waiting for breakthrough or answers? How might this act of worship change your perspective or situation?
Day 5: Becoming an Encounter of God’s Presence for Others
As we allow God to overshadow us and heal us from past seasons, we are called to become carriers of His presence—so that others encounter God through us. Our lives can be a source of encouragement, healing, and hope for those around us, especially when we walk in awareness of who we are in Christ. Sometimes, the very breakthrough we are waiting for is released as we step out in faith, speak life, and offer friendship and support to others. [34:24]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Who is someone you can intentionally encourage or support this week, becoming an encounter of God’s presence for them? What practical step can you take to shine His light into their life today?
Quotes
Every person lives under and casts a shadow. And so, you know, we we all deal with that. And so have have you ever considered that people are living in your shadow whether good or bad? Like some by choice, some by proximity just because they're they're near us and some accidentally. I'd say that all of us we have these divine appointments, right? And so I think it's important to know like who or what overshadows us. [00:02:10]
You and I, we have the the opportunity to cast a shadow wherever we go. And in it, we have the ability to demonstrate the goodness of God, to share the good news. Problem is, I'm not always aware of that. Sometimes I need reminded of that because all I can see sometimes is the moment that I'm in and what I need in that moment. Am I alone in this? [00:03:02]
Our days on earth are like a passing shadow gone so soon without a trace. I just want that to encourage you for a second. Job 8:9, that other encouraging book. For we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as a fleeting as a shadow. Psalm 39:6, we we are merely moving shadows and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth not knowing who will spend it. [00:03:57]
Psalms talks about the the benefits of being in the shadow of God. The the first one Psalm 178 that we are hidden. Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. Describes the shadow of God as being a shelter in Psalm 36:7. How precious is your unfailing love, oh God. All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. It's described as safety in Psalm 57:1. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. [00:04:42]
Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. And then we know that we cast a shadow, right? So whether positive or negative, our life casts a shadow on others. And so when you think about the description of his shadow over us, do people experience the same thing when they're around us? Do they feel hidden shelter, safety, rest, and joy? You have to answer that for yourself. [00:05:33]
But we have these biblical examples of people who lived under the shadow. And even in the Old Testament, they they had the shadow of the Holy Spirit over them as a as a forerunner to what was promised to everyone in the New Testament. And the first one was bezel, not be above, but bezel. How many remember bezel, right? The great story of Bezel. Anybody? A few of you. Thank you. Okay, it's in your Bible, folks. It's in your Bible, so you can read it later. [00:06:34]
But there's something about Bezel that that somehow in the hand of God, he became this master craftsman with knowing what to do and how to do it in all kinds of things, right? and and God chose him to put him in the story to say that here's here's somebody that with my presence and with my my spirit with him, he's able to do things that maybe he couldn't have done before. His his name actually means in the shadow of God. And so he was walking in the shadow of God and able to impact things around him and and to create beauty. [00:07:57]
Like a father uses his hand to guide the hand of an inexperienced son. It's apprenticeship that the the hand of God comes alongside of us and teaches us and guides us. It's almost like the potter's wheel in that great movie Ghost. What's the It's It's almost like in that formation like like his hands come around ours as we are creating and forming. [00:09:14]
We see over and over and over again God's presence, his protection, his sheltering, his covering, the hiddenness, the shade, all the things that he provides, right? And so we live in a sense, if you will, under his shadow. I I think all that was even a beginning because he takes it to a whole another level. And in the New Testament under the new covenant, he says, "All those things were were just pictures. It was it was something that was trying to show you and reveal my goodness back to you. But now I want to live inside you." [00:10:10]
And the first instance that we see it is in Luke 1. And it says, 'The angel replied, the Holy Spirit, it's talking to Mary. The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you. Will epzo over you. So the baby to be born will be holy and he will be called the son of God.' It's it's the first time that we we see this word used is that the Holy Spirit comes and and creates a shadow over her and supernaturally something happens within her, right? [00:11:25]
But the spirit of God's breaking out, right? And the spirit of God is is on and in people now, right? And all kinds of new things are happening, things that they've never seen before, never experienced. Jesus was doing all kinds of stuff like that, too, right? But we don't see an instance of that. We see where a lady like touches the hem of his garment. We see that, but we don't we don't read about anyway. Doesn't mean it didn't happen. But where Jesus just walked down the street and those things are happening. [00:13:50]
What if we walked with such an awareness of this? What if we walked with an awareness of God in us, the hope of glory, that we carry oursel that way? We we carry oursel in character and in conduct and the things that come out of our mouth that we realize that we're releasing life and death. Do you realize that like the words that you speak is releasing life and death over you, over your family, over your situations everywhere you go? [00:18:11]
But if we're not careful and if we hold on to things that we're not supposed to, they will become the thing that actually overshadows us. And that ends up being the shadow that we cast. There was this thing in the Old Testament we read about called sackcloth and ashes. Know what I'm talking about? No, you don't because we've never done that. You've heard No, we've heard about So, sackcloth um sounds awful, right? Goat's hair. It's kind of like a clothing made out of goat's hair. [00:20:33]
And so, it it's easy and to have these seasons where we've experienced loss. We've had some challenges. We've had some things not go our way. Maybe it's feels like it's not changing. It's not getting better. And maybe it never will. And it's easy in those seasons to begin to lose hope, to become disappointed, and I would say even angry. Sometimes it's it's things that people do. Sometimes it's things we're waiting for God to do. It it it can be all the stuff. [00:23:00]
How many of you know like when you're in that place, you're not the best version of yourself. Okay? You're just trying to get through. You're trying to walk it out. And and I I just try leading people in the middle of that, right? Boy, that's fun. What are we doing? What's the vision? Where are we going? I don't know. And I get it. I'm not, you know, I'm not bitter or anything, but it's just like I don't know. [00:23:51]
That means that we're going to walk through it. I I we want him to keep us from going through it. Just take it away. Take it away. Take it away. Take it away. Take it away now. Right. And he's going, "No, I'm going to I'm going to walk through it with you. I'm going to be ever present with you." And so, but but how many of you know like sometimes I feel like this has fallen? I don't know. [00:24:38]
But if we don't find Jesus in the middle of it, if he doesn't be the one in the midst of it that is overshadowing us and walking with us through it, it becomes more than just a season and a moment. It becomes our way of life. these things that have happened, you know, to you and to us and and I would I would say all of the earth right now there there is a real grieving and a loss, but I think Jesus is in it. [00:29:51]
But there has to come a point though where you you pick yourself up and you begin to remove the grave clothes of a past season, the sackcloth if you will. There comes a moment it's like, you know what? We need to I feel a little ashy. But there I think there comes a point though where you almost have to like pick yourself up, remove the grave clothes, let him wash us, wash off the season of the past. [00:32:28]
How many of you know that we can be an encounter for other people of God? We're supposed to be that people as they encounter us, they're encountering God. That that his shadow over us becomes the shadow that we are casting all around us. It's just that sometimes what served us well in a past season isn't going to serve us moving forward. [00:34:27]
But what do you do with it when I believe what he says and I believe these things and then I didn't see it and it didn't go that way. Maybe it even went the opposite way of what I expected. What What is the thing that gets you through? The only thing is that I cling to Jesus. He's still good. He's not a liar. Right? I cling to the father and I say, "You're still good. I don't understand. I don't understand. But you're still good. I've seen I've experienced too much of your goodness to deny you." [00:35:32]
We get stuck in the outcome sometimes that we want the outcome, we want the results. And I get the why. I really do. I'm not saying we're wrong in that even. But I think sometimes we lose sight of and perspective and then when the thing doesn't happen that we hope and it doesn't happen when we thought it's like are you even real? And listen, he is okay with our processing. And just because we don't see something doesn't mean we're not going to. [00:36:57]
But there comes a season where it's like that kind of stuff. It doesn't serve us well anymore. And nobody can dictate to you how long that is. Nobody can dictate to somebody else the process of grief. Nobody can dictate to you the timing of that, right? But it's just the intentional walk with the Lord to say there are moments when he says, "Now, I just need you to get up and let's walk together again. I just need you to take off those those clothes. I just let's here let me clean you up. Let me wash off the ash of of a past season." [00:37:32]
Sometimes the manifestation of God moving begins when we move first. Hear what I'm saying? It's it's when I can in the midst of something begin to praise him and that invitation as I'm praising him even in the midst of my mess in the midst of my waiting and not seeing the promise that that I realize like number one you are the gift right and does that begin to change the atmosphere that then invites the presence of God to come for change to happen rather than when I become bitter and a hardness comes into my heart that that becomes the the very every thought that swirls in my head and everything that comes out of my mouth in that there there's it's not like there's no there's no seeds for life to come if that makes sense right so by my very action of stepping into a new place and changing my thought to to align that's repentance right I'm I'm aligning now my thoughts with him and now my words I'm aligning with his and now my heart is changing so my heart is aligned with him becomes the very seedbed for God to move [00:41:43]
And I just want to declare over you that there's a there's a new season that is upon us. It's a new day, a dawning of a new day. It's Isaiah 43, right? Behold, I make all things new, forgetting what is past. There's there's a point where it came to pass and I'm declaring that over you today that an old season has come to pass and a new day is dawning over your life, over your circumstances. I'm declaring that he's making all things new. [00:47:34]
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