In this blog, I share four ways to prepare for your next season in life – whatever it may be. Fall typically represents a new season beyond the obvious transition in stations. It’s almost considered as a “new year” as kids start school, and many people start new jobs “after summer.” It’s a time for new beginnings and, like during the New Year, a time for reflection on “what’s next.”
We live in difficult times where tragedy strikes unexpectedly and, while we’re still mourning, a new tragedy occurs in our country or the world. The Pandemic was a world event that ushered a new season in all our lives – globally. In this blog, however, I want to focus on your next season of life while you are also embracing a new season for humanity.
Below are four ways to prepare for your next season in life:
Know who you are.
Have you ever asked yourself, “Who am I?” Of course, the obvious answer is that you are a human being. You could move on to describe who you are professionally or based on your trade. You can also describe yourself as a husband, wife, mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, sister, brother and many other names. You could even answer based on your race, ethnic background, or age. But I want you to consider the simplest answer of all, “I am a child of God.”
1 John 3:1 tells us, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” But how can you be certain you are indeed a child of God? Simple, you accept His Son Jesus, as your Lord and Savior today. Now you belong to the family of God!
Know the “why” of your belief system.
Another question. Have you ever asked yourself why you believe what you believe? Where did you learn what you know to be your “core values” and your own “belief system”? You need to know the source. If a speaker says something that you choose to appropriate in your belief system, ensure you check their source. How do you know that what they’re saying is the truth? It is your responsibility to be wise and on the alert about everything you hear on the Internet or from others.
Jesus tells us in John 14:6 (NKJ), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” There is no “my truth” or “your truth.” There is only THE truth and that is Jesus. My core beliefs come directly from the Bible. Whenever I listen to preachers, teachers of the Bible, or commentators, I check what they say for myself. I go to my source, the Word of God, to understand the concepts better and verify they’re saying the truth. If it’s not anywhere, I discard it and not make it part of my core belief system.
God is with you in every season in life.
As a person growing up from childhood to adulthood, we all experience similar seasons in our lives. We go to school and hopefully graduate from high school. Then some choose a college education while others choose a trade school or no college at all. The next season whether we like it or not is to work. Except for those who are unable to work, everyone must make a living somehow. Next, each person decides whether to marry or not, and to have children or not. If you choose to marry and have children, later you may become a grandparent. The progression continues and the expectation is to be retired someday. Although it’s appropriate to retire from a profession, I don’t believe in wasting 30 or more years of potential productivity.
Each season mentioned above comes with new challenges and expectations. You can’t expect a child to prepare for their teenage years. But as you grow up you start learning how to prepare for the next season when you prepare for college. If you decide not to attend college, then you prepare to work. If you marry young and decide to have children right away, you may be entering three seasons simultaneously. You’re starting your career, beginning your life with your spouse, and shortly after experiencing parenthood.
On the other side of the journey, you could be retiring from your career. And at the same time that you’re experiencing divorce and becoming an empty nester. Or you could still be working and become a grandparent needing to help your children so they can work. At the same time, you may lose your own parents or help them during their later years in life.
When Moses died, Joshua was in charge of bringing God’s people to the promise land. This was definitely a “next season” for Joshua. And God told him, “I command you – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NLT)
Accept and embrace the help.
As you go through each season in your life, know that God is with you every day and every step of the way. Understanding that you are a child of God helps you to embrace change and become resilient. Learning to adapt after a major life change is a skill that we all need to practice. But depending on the situation, it may take longer than we expect, and we may need professional help to get through it. Part of embracing the new season is accepting that we may need help in more than one way. It takes humility to accept help!
I hope these four ways to prepare for your next season in life will help you in your journey. I leave you with encouraging promises from the Psalms:
In Psalm 32:8 (NLT) The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Psalm 33:4 (NLT) For the word of the Lord holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust.
Psalm 37:5 (NLT) Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.