Carrie Baker – The Growth Collective

“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven— ”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP

God created the natural world around us, to exist within cycles and seasons.

We all have our favourite seasons, and often the ones we enjoy most are the spring and summer, where everything is growing, vibrant, lush and coming alive. 

We even enjoy the transition of autumn to winter, as the leaves change and fall and the cold days grow shorter. Each season is essential for the whole of creation, each one preparing for the next.

Winter

Winter is hard. Everything has stopped growing, it feels bleak and colourless. The trees are bare, the world around us looks lifeless, and the days are often cold and grey. (Depending of course, on where you live.)

But just because it looks like nothing is happening in winter, it doesn’t mean that it’s true. Winter’s long pause is an essential part of health and flourishing for all things that grow, it is a God-ordained rest for His creation.

We have personal seasons that remind us of the rhythms of nature. Sometimes we are in seasons of new growth and vibrant colours like spring.

The other extreme can feel like we’re in our own personal winter, a season in our life where it seems nothing is growing. But there is always hope in those darker months, and more happening beneath the surface than we can see. Winter’s rest is productive.

Pruning

There is work to be done in winter while the trees and the plants are resting. We need this work to be done in our life too.

The Pruning. 

Pruning is needed so that there can be even more abundant growth in the following season. There is great care taken to remove the right branches from the right places, to allow for maximum growth.

After the important work of pruning is done, the trees and plants are left to rest, saving their energy ready for their big growth season. 

Maybe in your life, you feel that your growth has come to a long pause, perhaps you recognise being in your own winter season.

This will look different for each of us.

Perhaps you feel that you are stuck right where you are because things aren’t moving along, or those opportunities you’ve been waiting for, never eventuated. 

Or maybe you are fighting against the things the Lord needs to cut away in your life, or you’re refusing to rest in order that you can grow even more.

But what if the Lord is allowing you a season of rest, preparation and pruning in readiness for something new to grow in your life? 

Preparation

Take a moment with me and look at those deep places within you, as I ask you some questions to think about:

• What are the areas in your life, where you can see little buds of potential for growth?

• How might this season, be shaping you?

• How are you choosing to lean into this season, or not?
• Are you allowing the rest and preparation (if you are in a winter season), or are you fighting against it?

• How are you conserving strength and energy for the season of growth to come?

• What is one thing you can do to embrace and thrive in this season of your journey?

• What are the areas of your life that you need to allow the Lord to prune? 

• Where are the areas you haven’t allowed this pruning?

As you give yourself time to think on these questions, some may not relate you right now. But those questions that resonate, be honest with yourself, and understand where you are right now.

Be In Your Season

I heard it said many times before I saw it lived-out in my own life; ‘There is blessing on the other side of obedience.’

So many times I have seen God’s invitation extended to me; ‘Will you be obedient and trust me?’ And each time I said yes, there has been growth, new levels of confidence gained, new opportunities and so many other unexpected blessings. 

If you find yourself in a winter season, give yourself permission to allow areas of your life to be dormant for a while. Don’t fight against the pause, but trust the Creator’s timing and lean into it.

Rest produces good fruit and growth in time. God appoints a time for everything under heaven, and all things must rest. Trees conserve their energy in winter, using stored energy to get through the cold months. They don’t fight against the natural order of things, and nor should we.

Be obedient to the season in which the Lord places you. If it’s a winter season, allow the pruning or the stillness as you rest.

Delve into the deep inner work that needs to happen in this time. Whatever your current season is, choose to trust the loving hands of our good and faithful God.

He is preparing you for what is coming, and He wants you to be ready for the blessing of what He has prepared for you.

New Seasons

As I write this, I am coming to the end of my own winter season. It’s been months of turning up to my desk to write, but feeling empty of words to share. A time of wanting to move forward with the dream God has put on my heart, but unable to begin pursuing it. 

So I chose the only thing I knew to do, and surrendered it all to the Lord. I stopped struggling to force what wouldn’t grow, I gave in to the pruning and shaping.

And when that work was done, I let it all sit, quietly wintering. 

Now I can clearly see the new growth budding in my life. I can feel it springing forth, as the words bubble up and start to trickle out. I’m ready for whatever this next chapter holds for me.

What season are you in at the moment? Maybe you’re in your summer and flourishing, or in a spring season where you are unfurling in new ways. When your season of winter comes, don’t fight all that the season requires of you. Choose to trust the One who ordains all things to happen at the right time, everything He does is from an immeasurable place of love for you.

In your prayer time, ask the Lord to show you what He is doing in your life, and give Him permission to do the work He needs to in this season. Ask Him what needs attention, pruning or preparation in your life, and ask for strength as you allow it. 

Say yes, friend. And keep saying yes to the Lord, letting Him lead you gently through every season.

Keep On Growing,

Carrie x

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