Principle to Tap Into ⇨ DISCERN BEFORE YOU DECIDE
There’s a verse in the Old Testament that has always stood out to me:
“…the men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…” —1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV)
I love that.
👉 They didn’t just understand the times…
👉 they knew how to respond
It reminds me of this:
“…a wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.” —Ecclesiastes 8:5 (AMP)
Before we talk about spring, summer, fall, or winter…
👉 pause here.
Because one of the most powerful things you can do is this:
👉 correctly identify your current season
Scripture gives language for this too:
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…” —Ephesians 5:15–16 (NIV)
👉 redeeming the time
But part of redeeming the time is this:
👉 knowing what time it is
👉 recognizing what God is doing in that time
🌿 Why This Matters
A lot of frustration in life doesn’t come from doing the wrong things…
👉 it comes from doing the right things in the wrong season
➡️ Expecting growth when it’s time to rest
➡️ Wanting results when it’s time to plant
➡️ Forcing momentum when God is slowing you down
And when that happens, we feel:
😞 Discouraged
😩 Behind
😤 Frustrated
But often the issue isn’t effort…
👉 it’s alignment
👉 alignment with the season—and with God in that season
🌿 A Simple Way to Discern Your Season
You don’t have to overcomplicate this.
Just slow down and ask honestly:
👉 What does my life actually look like right now?
👉 What might God be doing in this season…
👉 and how is He inviting me to respond?
🌸 SPRING — Am I starting something new?
➡️ New vision or direction?
➡️ Rebuilding or beginning again?
➡️ Fresh energy or hope rising?
👉 You may be in Spring
(a season of planting and beginning)
☀️ SUMMER — Am I in the middle of the work?
➡️ Showing up consistently—but it feels repetitive?
➡️ Working hard but not seeing results yet?
➡️ Requires endurance and follow-through?
👉 You may be in Summer
(a season of growth and sustaining)
🍂 FALL — Am I seeing results or outcomes?
➡️ Experiencing fruit from past effort—good or hard?
➡️ Evaluating what worked and what didn’t?
➡️ Seeing the results of what’s been sown?
👉 You may be in Fall
(a season of harvest and clarity)
❄️ WINTER — Am I in a slower or heavier season?
➡️ Something has ended—or is ending?
➡️ Life feels slower, harder, or unclear?
➡️ Walking through trial, loss, or deep work?
➡️ Growth feels unseen?
👉 You may be in Winter
(a season of formation and hidden work)
💡 A Helpful Reframe
👉 No season is wasted
Each one is doing something different:
🌸 Spring → beginning
☀️ Summer → building
🍂 Fall → revealing
❄️ Winter → forming
And often…
👉 what feels the hardest
is doing the deepest work
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete…” —James 1:4 (NIV)
“Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” —Romans 5:3–4 (NIV)
👉 God is at work—even when it’s not visible
💡 One More Thing
Life doesn’t always fit neatly into one category.
👉 You might be in Winter in one area… and Spring in another
That’s not confusing…
👉 that’s real life
🎯 Your Next Step
Don’t rush past this.
👉 Take a moment and name the season you’re in
Not what you wish it was…
not what someone else is in…
👉 what is actually true for you
Because when you name the season…
👉 things start to make sense
🌱 Coming Next…
Before we walk through each season…
we need to understand something foundational:
👉 how growth actually works
Because it’s not all up to you…
and it’s not all out of your control
💭 Question to carry with you:
👉 What season are you in right now—and how might God be inviting you to respond?
The Suede Sofa Blog 