Ecc 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

As runners, we participate in all of the seasons. We run during the winter, spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, we must bundle up with our long-sleeve drifit, our running tights, our winter hats, our gloves, and warm socks. Sometimes, we even bring along the hand warmers. In the spring and fall, we feel comfortable in our running shorts and dri fit sleevless, short sleeved, or maybe even long sleeved shirts. Sometimes, there are cool mornings in those seasons, but they are usually welcomed. In the summer, we run in hot humidity here in the south. We wear the least amount of running gear that we feel comfortable in, and when we finish our run, strangers may think that we just got out of the swimming pool. We are drenched! We guzzle our water , take our gels and salt tabs as though we could not survive without them.

In our spiritual and physical lives, we experience different seasons. Sometimes we have great seasons of fruitfulness and happiness. During those times, it seems as though everything in the world is just perfect. Other times, we are sad due to a loss of a life, a sever in a relationship, or a universal tragedy. Maybe we are depressed because others around us are suffering, we are suffering with pain, or maybe we have had an economic crisis. I believe that the Lord takes us through different seasons so that we can rely on Him and appreciate His constance in our lives. We can learn to experience Him more in ways that we may not have if it were not for the seasons. We can also benefit others by encouraging them during seasons of their lives that perhaps we have already experienced. Let’s pursue God in all seasons of our lives. Let’s ask Him what He wants us to learn during the seasons that we experience.