DOOLEY NOTED: The seasons of the soul

You can almost feel it coming. The days are slowly growing shorter. Darkness arrives a little earlier each evening. Soon, the oppressive heat of summer will surrender to cooler mornings, changing foliage, football weekends, and the unmistakable advent of fall. We may not know exactly when the first cold front will blow through or when the leaves will reach their peak, but we know the change is coming. Summer always gives way to fall, just as fall eventually yields to winter. The seasons alternate with a rhythm so predictable that we arrange our lives around their transitions.

So much of life remains unpredictable. We cannot know what tomorrow will bring (James 4:14-15), yet certain trends emerge with remarkable consistency. Routine cycles govern the pace of our circumstances even when we cannot predict the particulars of every situation that unfolds. 

Likewise, the changing seasons remind us that some patterns are so familiar we can anticipate their arrival. Consider the familiar path of water as well. Rain falls from the heavens, collects on the earth, evaporates from the surface, and accumulates in clouds only to follow the same process again. These fixed realities are as consistent as the earth’s rotation or clock’s ticking. 

In a similar way, a common sequence emerges as we chart our relationship with God over time. Examining the spiritual ups and downs of ancient Israel reveals a painfully familiar spiral away from God before returning to Him (Judges 2). Sure, the temptations and struggles will vary from person to person, but the cycle of waywardness and restoration is quite predictable. Typically, all of us are in one of six categories as we live out our faith. 

• We show dedication to God. 
• We become disillusioned with God.   
• We are disobedient to God.
• We face God’s discipline.
• We become desperate for God.
• We receive God’s deliverance.

Obviously, complete dedication to the Lord is how all true believers aspire to live. Remembering the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for us is key to maintaining our commitment (Judges 2:7). We cannot ride the experience of others if we want to live holy lives. Each generation must choose the path of faithfulness for itself.

Sadly, we are often quick to become disillusioned with God, ironically, due to the blessings of God in our lives. Rather than respond with hearts of gratitude, we sometimes perceive ourselves to be entitled to His provisions. A generation that does not know the Lord will be quick to squander His good gifts (Judges 2:10). The surest sign of disillusionment is the discomfort we sometimes feel with talk of faith, obedience, and holiness. When God’s Word seems old-fashioned to our modern ears, we’ve taken a step away from the Lord. 

Next comes the season of disobedience. Ultimately, Israel forsook the God of their fathers and worshipped false gods (Judges 2:11-12). We, too, choose to disobey our Savior far more than we care to admit, chasing the idols that capture our hearts. Much like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, we put question marks where God has placed periods. “Did God really say?” is the mantra of a rebellious spirit. During this stage we justify what God hates and ridicule those who dare to disagree. 

Contrary to the reckless permissiveness of our day, God’s love for us does not demand His affirmation of our carnality. The chastening discipline of God is just as real as His unwavering commitment to His people (Judges 2:14). The perversions of Israel evoked the anger of the Lord, leading to His swift correction. Our wickedness does the same. Just as earthly fathers discipline their children with genuine care and concern, so does our heavenly Father (Heb. 12:5-11). 

Finally, in desperation we often cry out to God in repentance (Judges 2:15). These moments of renewal and recommitment lead to the deliverance that we need. God saves us from the consequences of our defiance and opens the door for us to be dedicated again. In the Old Testament, He did so through judges who rescued the Jewish people from their enemies (Judges 2:16). Unfortunately, when each leader died, the downward spiral of transgressions started all over again.

God is willing to set us free from this cycle of sin through the atoning work of His Son. Though He was dead, He is alive, and He lives forever to make intercession for His saints (Heb. 7:25). Whatever category you might be in today, God has made a way for you to be fully dedicated to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Dr. Adam B. Dooley is pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, and author of Hope When Life Unravels. Contact him at adamdooley.org. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBDooley.