Every farmer knows that what you sow in one season, you will reap in another season. You plant in the spring, and you harvest in the fall.
The way you respond to someone or to a situation right now is definitely going to affect your future. If you respond correctly in a season of life and you do the right thing, even when you don't feel like it, it pays great dividends in the future.
"And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up" (Gal. 6:9). In other words, don't give up.
No matter which season you're in, there are four questions you can ask yourself that will help you reap God's blessing in the next season:
- What can I learn in this season of life? There are some things we only learn through experience. Deuteronomy 11:2a says, "Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him" (GNT).
- What can I enjoy in this season of life? The Bible says, "In everything vie thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18, MEV). We are to live the good and the bad days with a sense of gratitude because each day is a gift from God.
- What is most important for this season? Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." If that's true, then you can't have it all at one time. You have to make some tough decisions about what really matters at this particular time in life.
- How can I help others in this season of life? The Bible says very clearly that you weren't put on this earth just to live for yourself: "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it" (Prov. 3:27). God gave you abilities, talents and energy to help other people.
Pray this prayer today:
Jesus Christ, I want to grow in you. I want to develop spiritually. Please use the seasons of my life to help me mature in my faith. Would you teach me to trust you in every season, even the difficult ones? Lord, I invite you to be at the center of every season of my life so you can build the character that I will take with me to heaven. In your name I pray. Amen. 
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church. His book, The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of pastors.com, a global internet community for pastors.
This article originally appeared at pastorrick.com.
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