The Beauty of Seasons
Donna Zangara / Executive Director of Next Gen Ministries
Can someone tell me where I can find the brakes to slow this summer down? It feels like it's moving faster than any summer before. The thought of it coming to an end makes me want to hold on just a little tighter.
Seasons are funny things. They can be wonderful—bringing fresh starts, renewed hope, and welcome change. But they can also pass far too quickly, mark the end of something we love, and leave us feeling just a little empty.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about seasons because I'm stepping into a new one myself.
After nearly 30 years in ministry, I'm beginning to reduce my ministry hours so I can spend more time with my family. This fall, our family will welcome grandbaby number two, and I can't tell you how excited I am! Being "Nana" has become one of God's sweetest gifts to me, and I want to make room to be fully present in this new season.
As I reflect on these past three decades, my heart is filled with gratitude. There have been seasons of incredible fruitfulness, seasons of stretching, seasons of heartbreak, and seasons where I've watched God do immeasurably more than I could have imagined. I wouldn't trade any of them because each one has shaped me and taught me more about the faithfulness of God.
Recently, I came across two simple statements that have settled deeply into my heart.
“We plant trees that we may never sit under.”
How true that is. So much of ministry—and really, so much of life—is investing in people and places without always seeing the full harvest. We plant seeds. We water faithfully. We trust God with the growth.
The second was this: “In some seasons we tend the fruit, and in other seasons we tend the roots.”
That one stopped me in my tracks.
Not every season is meant for producing visible fruit. Some seasons are quieter. They are seasons of strengthening what is unseen, investing in relationships, resting, healing, growing, and allowing God to deepen our roots. Neither season is more important than the other. Both are necessary for healthy growth.
The wonderful truth is that while our seasons change, our Savior never does.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Our circumstances change. Our roles change. Our families grow. Our ministries evolve. But Jesus remains constant—steadfast in His love, unwavering in His faithfulness, and perfect in His plans.
Ecclesiastes reminds us: "He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecclesiastes 3:11
Sometimes we struggle because God's timing doesn't match our own. We wonder if we've missed our opportunity or if a season has ended too soon. Yet God sees the whole picture. He is never late, never hurried, and never surprised. He is making something beautiful—even when we can't yet see it.
The psalmist echoes this same assurance: "But you are the same, and your years have no end." Psalm 102:27
As summer begins to give way to fall, perhaps God is inviting each of us to embrace whatever season He has us in today. Maybe you're planting seeds. Maybe you're enjoying the fruit of years of faithfulness. Maybe you're tending deep roots that no one else can see.
Whatever your season, know this: the God who has faithfully carried you through every previous season will be just as faithful in this one.
And for that, we can rest.
Father, thank You for being the unchanging God in a world that is always changing. Help us to embrace each season with grateful hearts, trusting that You are making everything beautiful in Your perfect time. Whether we are planting, harvesting, celebrating, grieving, or simply growing deeper roots, may we remain rooted in You. Amen.