momofsix I am a homeschool mom with six children. View all articles | Contact author

God has really helped me to understand the different seasons of life. I was really getting depressed because a number of people were coming into my life and saying that if you don't do this or you don't do that, then you are not living like a Christian or you are not contributing to the organization, or you owe the extended family this or that, you owe the church these services (there was a lot of demands coming from the church), you owe your friends this or that, etc. I guess you could say I had a lot of demanding people come into my life.

I cried out to the Lord, telling him that I loved him but that my hands were too full to do all the things that sounded so good. I would try to and then find myself running in circles, exhausted, trying to raise my babies (homeschooling, feeding, training, etc.) and trying to meet other people's demands. I found myself getting irritable with the children, not getting meals on the table, neglecting housework, etc. all because I was busy trying to meet everyone else's demands. I felt like a failure. I felt like I was drowning. I was crying out to the Lord.

Then I felt the Lord, quietly and deep down, tell me that it was ok.  He didn't expect me to do all those things because it wasn't my season. He reminded me of the scripture that there is a season for everything. I felt soo much relief (God is so good at taking the burdens!).

There is a season in our life where we are young and full of energy, a good season to be extra hands for the Lord.

There is a season when we are married and have a lot of little babies, that is a season to focus on our babies.

There is a season when we have our babies leave, when we have more time on our hands to extend our hands for the Lord again.

There is a season for everything.

There are different seasons of our finances.

There are different seasons for physical abilities.

There are different seasons of where we are emotionally, developmentally, etc.

It seems easy for others to criticize when they are in a different season than someone else. Others like to point the finger and accuse, "Why aren't you doing what I am convicted to do?" Now, I don't mean excuse yourself from helping people in need because you are in your "season". Oh, no. I mean, don't get under condemnation because you are not in the same season as someone else. Don't let other people impose their "season" onto you.  It is ok to sit back and focus on what God has given you at hand. We are only required to obey God, not man. 

I still have to remind myself of what God taught me sometimes. When I have relatives that demand that we have to go to this function or that function, that extended family is required to participate, etc., I have to pull myself away and remind myself that God said I am in my season that is to be protected from others intruding. Now if I pray, and my husband and I are convicted that we should do whatever it is, then that is a different story. However, I try not to allow others who make demands that I can't meet because of season I am in.

God bless.