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The Seasons of God: How the Shifting Patterns of Your Life Reveal His Purposes for You
What season of life are you in?
Each of us goes through periods of life that have a certain character—a few months or a few years, good times or difficult circumstances, times of brilliant joy or periods of dark clouds. Often we say, “It’s just the season of life I’m in.”
But did you know that just as God has purposes for the seasons of nature, he also uses seasons in your life to grow you, work with you, and talk to you?
Richard Blackaby explains in The Seasons of God how understanding the principles of the seasons can offer us hope, direction, insight, and intimacy with God himself. It’s a thoughtful exploration of God’s patterns at work in our lives—how His will is being carried out in the best way…at the best time.
Your plans, your relationships, your career, your ministry—all have their unique God-intended moment. God’s Word expresses it this “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
So what’s your season of life? And what is God telling you through the season you’re in?
Each of us goes through periods of life that have a certain character—a few months or a few years, good times or difficult circumstances, times of brilliant joy or periods of dark clouds. Often we say, “It’s just the season of life I’m in.”
But did you know that just as God has purposes for the seasons of nature, he also uses seasons in your life to grow you, work with you, and talk to you?
Richard Blackaby explains in The Seasons of God how understanding the principles of the seasons can offer us hope, direction, insight, and intimacy with God himself. It’s a thoughtful exploration of God’s patterns at work in our lives—how His will is being carried out in the best way…at the best time.
Your plans, your relationships, your career, your ministry—all have their unique God-intended moment. God’s Word expresses it this “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
So what’s your season of life? And what is God telling you through the season you’re in?
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2012
115 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Richard Blackaby
106 books26 followersRichard is the president of Blackaby Ministries International where he works with his father Henry, brother Tom, and other family members to help people experience God. Richard speaks internationally, working especially with leaders of churches, organizations, companies, and families.
Richard earned a B.A. in history from the University of Saskatchewan. He has an M.Div and Ph.D. in church history from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and an honorary doctorate from Dallas Baptist University.
Richard served as a senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Winnipeg, and then as the president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta Canada for 13 years. He continues to serve as the seminary’s Chancellor.
He has authored and co-authored over 30 books.
Richard earned a B.A. in history from the University of Saskatchewan. He has an M.Div and Ph.D. in church history from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and an honorary doctorate from Dallas Baptist University.
Richard served as a senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Winnipeg, and then as the president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta Canada for 13 years. He continues to serve as the seminary’s Chancellor.
He has authored and co-authored over 30 books.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 2, 2018
Better understand what’s happening in my 80 year old life!
During the last two years I couldn’t understand why God has taken me through so many changes: but at last after reading Richard’s book, I’ve decided to just accept that there are God’s seasons and what I need to do is rediscover the joy that can only come from God, not my circumstances. I am finally at peace; I am now in a new spring in my life.
During the last two years I couldn’t understand why God has taken me through so many changes: but at last after reading Richard’s book, I’ve decided to just accept that there are God’s seasons and what I need to do is rediscover the joy that can only come from God, not my circumstances. I am finally at peace; I am now in a new spring in my life.
July 29, 2019
Higher perspective for deeper meaning
I've read Seasons slowly and deliberately, highlighting dozens of passages. As I enter my third quarter-life, the search for divine rhythms and meaning within my passionate faith has been helped by the moments in these pages. I want to be fully present and thriving in every season. Today, this book helps. I expect to refer back to it often even weaving it into my devotional life.
I've read Seasons slowly and deliberately, highlighting dozens of passages. As I enter my third quarter-life, the search for divine rhythms and meaning within my passionate faith has been helped by the moments in these pages. I want to be fully present and thriving in every season. Today, this book helps. I expect to refer back to it often even weaving it into my devotional life.
September 16, 2021
My rating of this book is probably not fair. It's a readable book, with a straightforward approach. It's probably much better than I give it credit for being - but it was not what I wanted or needed it to be. It is introductory, casual, and gentle, while I was looking for something more direct and directive, more intense. Even those who aren't Christian or aren't religious will find the analogies useful and instructive. I think I did - but I wanted something more or different.
July 30, 2022
Valuable lesson that is nicely articulated and clearly delivered. Blackaby, like his father, is a gifted teacher.
I found the true value of the book to be in its beginning pages and its ending pages; here the author establishes the natural order of seasons and concludes with encouraging, scriptural-supported perspectives on finding joy in each season.
I recommend this to anyone challenged by a particularly difficult stage of their life. Well worth your time.
I found the true value of the book to be in its beginning pages and its ending pages; here the author establishes the natural order of seasons and concludes with encouraging, scriptural-supported perspectives on finding joy in each season.
I recommend this to anyone challenged by a particularly difficult stage of their life. Well worth your time.
August 1, 2018
At first I really hated this book. I agree with Blackaby’s premise, but I didn’t want to reflect on the winters of my life. But he reminds us that God always has another spring for us and that in all seasons we can have joy!
February 1, 2024
Simply yet beautifully written, portraying a really helpful meta narrative for the natural change and courses of life. Gives me hope and patience for things will take years and years to come to fruition — and challenges people to describe what they mean when describe their current “season”
April 16, 2025
Richard fills this book with truth and laughter. His personal stories are relatable and are wonderful illustrations for the seasons of our lives. This book gives hope and understanding to the journey.
November 19, 2014
“You have to know when to cut bait and when to go fishing.”
Whoever said it first was certainly a fishing expert. A good friend of mine, who is an obsessive fisherman that actually put himself through school working in fisheries, advised: the time to fish is at twilight—morning and evening. I never caught a fish with a lure until the day I followed his advice. Timing is everything if you want to catch fish.
Richard Blackaby’s book, The Seasons of God, builds on the basic premise of King Solomon (7): For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV). Blackaby (3) writes:
This book explores something that involves getting your timing right for all you do and where you do it. It’s about being free to really enjoy what you’re doing and where you’re doing—and to make the most of the experience.
Blackaby (13) reminds us also of the Apostle Paul’s observation that: at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Rom 5:6 ESV).
Blackaby (24-41) summarzes his observations about timing in a chapter entitled: Ten Laws of the Seasons of Life. These laws are:
1. Each of us experiences repeated cycles in life that are profoundly mirrored in the seasons we see in nature.
2. These seasons are more than simply a metaphor for aging.
3. Each season is unique and adds important dimensions to life.
4. Our seasons follow a set order.
5. Our seasons vary in length and intensity—and in what they require from us.
6. The way we handle one season profoundly impacts how we experience the seasons that follow.
7. We can—and often do—fail to recognize and understand our particular season.
8. Understanding our seasons of life requires a vital, open, trusting relationship with God.
9. We experience different seasons in different aspects of our lives.
10. We are meant to thrive in every season.
This last point is terribly important—thriving is God’s will for our lives and his guidance is the key to making the most of each season (40).
The four seasons of life are taken from nature. Blackaby (25-26) describes them as follows:
1. Spring is about potential, promise, and possibilities.
2. Summer is a time of growth and maturation.
3. Autumn is the season of harvest.
4. Winter is a season of winding down—withdrawal, retreat, and closure.
Problems (47) arise when we are impatient for the next season (season rushers) or refuse to give up the previous season (season graspers). I am more prone to impatience—friends used to say that I was born 16 years old—but we all know someone who reports their age on their birthday as 29—again. Getting stuck in a particularly happy season or particularly sad season seems to be a pattern repeated in many unhappy lives.
Blackaby’s book is written in 3 parts: Embracing the Pattern, Embracing each Season, and Thriving in All Our Seasons. These parts are composed of 29 chapters. Chapters 6 through 25 are found in part 2 where Blackaby introduces a classification system: 4 seasons described in 4 areas of live. The seasons are listed above; the 4 areas of life affected by the seasons are: your identity, your relationships, your roles, and your faith (58-60). The first and third parts of the book introduce the subject, summarize the lessons learned, and suggest what to do with it.
Many people will want to skip straight to chapter 28: With Joy Comes Laughter. Here Blackaby talks about how to have fun. How do you become a joy-producing person? (238) Blackaby suggests house decorations (240), a chocolate fountain (241), a custom closet (241), holiday themes (242), and homemade movies (242). Richard: please invite me to your home sometime!
Blackaby’s writing has been influential in my walk with the Lord. Although I was exposed to Experiencing God[1] in my church, I actually spent more time with Hearing God’s Voice[2]. It was about a year later that I began to sense a call into pastoral ministry. Blackaby’s The Seasons of God is a good holiday read and a thoughtful book anytime. It may change your life.
[1] Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King. 1990. Knowing and Doing the Will of God. Nashville: Lifeway Press.
[2] Henry and Richard Blackaby. 2002. Hearing God’s Voice. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.
Whoever said it first was certainly a fishing expert. A good friend of mine, who is an obsessive fisherman that actually put himself through school working in fisheries, advised: the time to fish is at twilight—morning and evening. I never caught a fish with a lure until the day I followed his advice. Timing is everything if you want to catch fish.
Richard Blackaby’s book, The Seasons of God, builds on the basic premise of King Solomon (7): For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV). Blackaby (3) writes:
This book explores something that involves getting your timing right for all you do and where you do it. It’s about being free to really enjoy what you’re doing and where you’re doing—and to make the most of the experience.
Blackaby (13) reminds us also of the Apostle Paul’s observation that: at the right time Christ died for the ungodly (Rom 5:6 ESV).
Blackaby (24-41) summarzes his observations about timing in a chapter entitled: Ten Laws of the Seasons of Life. These laws are:
1. Each of us experiences repeated cycles in life that are profoundly mirrored in the seasons we see in nature.
2. These seasons are more than simply a metaphor for aging.
3. Each season is unique and adds important dimensions to life.
4. Our seasons follow a set order.
5. Our seasons vary in length and intensity—and in what they require from us.
6. The way we handle one season profoundly impacts how we experience the seasons that follow.
7. We can—and often do—fail to recognize and understand our particular season.
8. Understanding our seasons of life requires a vital, open, trusting relationship with God.
9. We experience different seasons in different aspects of our lives.
10. We are meant to thrive in every season.
This last point is terribly important—thriving is God’s will for our lives and his guidance is the key to making the most of each season (40).
The four seasons of life are taken from nature. Blackaby (25-26) describes them as follows:
1. Spring is about potential, promise, and possibilities.
2. Summer is a time of growth and maturation.
3. Autumn is the season of harvest.
4. Winter is a season of winding down—withdrawal, retreat, and closure.
Problems (47) arise when we are impatient for the next season (season rushers) or refuse to give up the previous season (season graspers). I am more prone to impatience—friends used to say that I was born 16 years old—but we all know someone who reports their age on their birthday as 29—again. Getting stuck in a particularly happy season or particularly sad season seems to be a pattern repeated in many unhappy lives.
Blackaby’s book is written in 3 parts: Embracing the Pattern, Embracing each Season, and Thriving in All Our Seasons. These parts are composed of 29 chapters. Chapters 6 through 25 are found in part 2 where Blackaby introduces a classification system: 4 seasons described in 4 areas of live. The seasons are listed above; the 4 areas of life affected by the seasons are: your identity, your relationships, your roles, and your faith (58-60). The first and third parts of the book introduce the subject, summarize the lessons learned, and suggest what to do with it.
Many people will want to skip straight to chapter 28: With Joy Comes Laughter. Here Blackaby talks about how to have fun. How do you become a joy-producing person? (238) Blackaby suggests house decorations (240), a chocolate fountain (241), a custom closet (241), holiday themes (242), and homemade movies (242). Richard: please invite me to your home sometime!
Blackaby’s writing has been influential in my walk with the Lord. Although I was exposed to Experiencing God[1] in my church, I actually spent more time with Hearing God’s Voice[2]. It was about a year later that I began to sense a call into pastoral ministry. Blackaby’s The Seasons of God is a good holiday read and a thoughtful book anytime. It may change your life.
[1] Henry T. Blackaby and Claude V. King. 1990. Knowing and Doing the Will of God. Nashville: Lifeway Press.
[2] Henry and Richard Blackaby. 2002. Hearing God’s Voice. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers.
November 22, 2012
Richard Blackaby in his new book, “The Seasons of God” published by Multnomah Books shows us How the Shifting Patterns of Your Life Reveal His Purposes for You.
From the Back cover: What season of life are you in?
Each of us goes through periods of life that have a certain character—a few months or a few years, good times or difficult circumstances, times of brilliant joy or periods of dark clouds. Often we say, “It’s just the season of life I’m in.”
But did you know that just as God has purposes for the seasons of nature, he also uses seasons in your life to grow you, work with you, and talk to you?
Richard Blackaby explains in The Seasons of God how understanding the principles of the seasons can offer us hope, direction, insight, and intimacy with God himself. It’s a thoughtful exploration of God’s patterns at work in our lives—how His will is being carried out in the best way…at the best time.
Your plans, your relationships, your career, your ministry—all have their unique God-intended moment. God’s Word expresses it this way: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
So what’s your season of life? And what is God telling you through the season you’re in?
The Bible tells us, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven.” Every year we go through four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Each season brings its own weather and conditions. We expect them and know there is a time limit for each season, though for some, like Winter, we wish it might end quicker. Well God has the exact same seasons for us. And each of our seasons has a time limit that is known only to God and some of them we wish might end sooner. Pastor Blackaby gives us an understanding of the seasons of God. In Three parts: Embracing The Pattern, Embracing Each Season and Thriving In All Our Seasons he shows us what we need to understand so we might grow in each of the seasons. For some of us this book will be a revelation. For some of us it will be a refresher. Whatever the category we fall in ”The Seasons of God” is a must. I recommend reading this book and giving it as a gift to friends and family.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
From the Back cover: What season of life are you in?
Each of us goes through periods of life that have a certain character—a few months or a few years, good times or difficult circumstances, times of brilliant joy or periods of dark clouds. Often we say, “It’s just the season of life I’m in.”
But did you know that just as God has purposes for the seasons of nature, he also uses seasons in your life to grow you, work with you, and talk to you?
Richard Blackaby explains in The Seasons of God how understanding the principles of the seasons can offer us hope, direction, insight, and intimacy with God himself. It’s a thoughtful exploration of God’s patterns at work in our lives—how His will is being carried out in the best way…at the best time.
Your plans, your relationships, your career, your ministry—all have their unique God-intended moment. God’s Word expresses it this way: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
So what’s your season of life? And what is God telling you through the season you’re in?
The Bible tells us, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under Heaven.” Every year we go through four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Each season brings its own weather and conditions. We expect them and know there is a time limit for each season, though for some, like Winter, we wish it might end quicker. Well God has the exact same seasons for us. And each of our seasons has a time limit that is known only to God and some of them we wish might end sooner. Pastor Blackaby gives us an understanding of the seasons of God. In Three parts: Embracing The Pattern, Embracing Each Season and Thriving In All Our Seasons he shows us what we need to understand so we might grow in each of the seasons. For some of us this book will be a revelation. For some of us it will be a refresher. Whatever the category we fall in ”The Seasons of God” is a must. I recommend reading this book and giving it as a gift to friends and family.
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 11, 2017
Richard Blackaby discusses the seasons in one's life and embracing each season. In entering the winter of my life, I especially liked his thought that within each season we experience a rotation of seasons -- so I am looking to a new spring. In Blackaby's words, spring brings "a renewal of God's promises, a confirmation of a new identity, a refocusing of future vision and vocation, and a reviving of our worship and reverence for the Lord. All this can be our experience, in a way that's unique for each of us, as we let God lead us into our own new beginnings." Another good point he makes is that there are times in our lives when our jobs, our associations and other aspects come to a winter -- and instead of letting go and moving back into a new spring, we are impeding an opportunity for growth and new revelation. We have seasons in our relationships, our roles, and our career lives, as well as in our spiritual journey. For me, this book was very timely.
October 10, 2012
I've known of the Blackabys for some time but never read any of their stuff until now. I really enjoyed Richard's writing style. Loved his self-deprecating sense of humor, but especially appreciated his insights into the seasons of life and how to make the most of each of them. I tended to think of life as one continuum - with youth as spring, adulthood as summer, etc., but Blackaby points out that we can experience different seasons simultaneously e.g. you may be in a fall season of childrearing, but the spring of your professional life. I found that helpful and encouraging. I used this for quiet time and journaling, but it would also be a good read and discussion for a small group.
December 31, 2013
Blackaby does another solid job of sharing his Biblical views, this time on the subject of seasons. Seasons can pertain to age, ministry, identity, relationships, health, work, relationships.
There is a spring, summer, fall, winter in all of these categories. He makes the point that it is good to know where one is in reference to any one of the categories.
At the risk of too many stories, Blackaby shares lots of anecdotes from his own life, family, ministry.
All in all, it is a good read. I am finding it helpful, as 2013 draws to and end, to prayerfully review my 'categories' in light of this passage from Eccl 3.
There is a spring, summer, fall, winter in all of these categories. He makes the point that it is good to know where one is in reference to any one of the categories.
At the risk of too many stories, Blackaby shares lots of anecdotes from his own life, family, ministry.
All in all, it is a good read. I am finding it helpful, as 2013 draws to and end, to prayerfully review my 'categories' in light of this passage from Eccl 3.
July 26, 2015
This is one of the best books I have read in a while. It gives an interesting take on how each life stage we go through has seasons--spring, summer, fall, winter--and how those can help you interpret God's will for you. Hard to describe, but very encouraging. And I needed this book at this moment in my journey as a couple of areas of my life were coming to a close in the winter stage. Get this book! By the way, it's written by Henry Blackaby's son Richard; they wrote the Experiencing God book and study.
August 28, 2013
Changed the way I look at life, and not many books have done that for me! It is amazing how vivid a picture the natural seasons can give you in relation to the seasons of your life. It will not only help you understand the season you are currently in, but will also help you understand the seasons your friends and family are in as well. This has done wonders for me as a pastor in understanding how best to minister to the many people (and many seasons!) I come in contact with on a regular basis.
August 28, 2013
My relation to the author indicates an obvious bias, but it does not change the fact that this is a great book crammed full of practical wisdom that can relate to the everyday life of any reader, regardless of which "season" they find themselves in. It's a quick and easy read so I highly recommend checking it out!
November 18, 2015
I believe this is a good book with unique biblical view of life. I found that the case-study style stories outnumbered the practical application of the scriptural concept. This can be more instructive and illustrative or it can be unnecessary fluff depending on your view. I liked the book but felt the stories dominated the presentation of the core material.
July 5, 2016
This book has a few nuggets of wisdom, but the vast majority of it is filler. There are tons of stories that are only tangentially related to the point he is making. For example, I found the story about his sons' band mildly interesting, but I have no idea why it was in the book. In general, this is a book for men. Women, particularly stay-at-home mothers, will find little help here.
September 10, 2012
The Seasons of God is a most insightful and helpful book for us as we pass through the seasons of our life - offering solid practical advice and direction as to how to live in and make the most of each season of life we experience. An excellent read! I give this book *****!
September 29, 2019
This book is designed for a daily devotional. Well , I am almost finished as it is an amazing journey of failure, loneliness , neglect, hope, determination, and faith. You will probably not be able to sick to just one chapter per day either. Love this and so glad I choose to read it.
January 4, 2017
An inspiring book about the seasons of your life-what they mean and how to thrive while in them. This would be a good book to use for a small-group study.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews