Seasons Shape Us
What You Become Matters More Than What You Go Through
Beloved Friend,
Life has its highs and lowest moments that fill us with joy and others that stretch us in ways we never expected. But beyond simply making it through each season, there’s something even more important: Who are you becoming through it?
It’s easy to focus on the relief of getting past a difficult time, but have you ever paused to ask, “Did I truly learn what God wanted me to learn?” Because seasons aren’t just about endurance; they’re about transformation.
Think about Joseph. He went from being the favorite son to a slave, then a prisoner, and finally, a ruler in Egypt. But at every stage, his heart remained in the right posture. He didn’t let betrayal or false accusations corrupt his spirit. When his brothers stood before him years later, he had the power to repay them for all their wickedness, yet his response was, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). He let God refine him, not harden him.
Contrast that with Naomi. Life struck her with grief, and she became unrecognizable, even to herself. She said, “Don’t call me Naomi (pleasant). Call me Mara (bitter), because the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). Pain had changed her. And if we’re not careful, it can change us too.
Maybe you’ve experienced moments where you gave selflessly, but people took it for granted. Maybe you poured love into friendships or family, but when you needed the same, you met indifference. I understand. There was a time when I showed up for people wholeheartedly, putting aside my own needs, until I hit that point where I thought, Enough is enough. I started building walls; not just boundaries, but defenses. I told myself I was being wise, but really, I was shutting people out. And then I realized something: The adversary’s plan wasn’t just to hurt me; it was to change me. To make me less open, less loving, and less willing to be the person God had called me to be.
But seasons of testing aren’t just about trials, they’re also about stewardship. Joseph didn’t just endure hardship; he also stewarded abundance. In Egypt, he stored up grain during the seven years of plenty, ensuring survival during the seven years of famine (Genesis 41:29-30). What if he had squandered the good years, thinking they would last forever? Many people assume abundance is for consumption, but it’s actually for preparation. Seasons of ease aren’t meant for waste or pride. They aren’t for looking down on those struggling, nor for forgetting that times change. Likewise, difficult seasons aren’t meant to make us bitter or closed off, but to refine us for what’s ahead.
Paul understood this well. He said, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12). Meaning? Who we are shouldn’t be dictated by our seasons. Whether in abundance or scarcity, joy or hardship, we must ensure that what comes out of us honors God.
Not every difficult moment in life is about pain; many are about growth. Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (James 1:2-3). Sometimes, what God is doing in you is far more important than what is happening around you.
This year, you’ll experience all kinds of moments: beautiful ones, challenging ones, unexpected ones. But in all of them, let God shape you, not the circumstance. Whether the season is teaching you patience, wisdom, endurance, or trust, don’t rush through it, learn from it. Because the real testimony isn’t just that you made it through, but that you came out more like Christ.
With thoughts of kindness,
ABBA’s Shofar