Imagine trying to stay balanced on top of a ball. How long could you last? A few seconds? A few minutes? Perhaps longer?
This study will look at themes from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and the idea that there really is a season for everything. A lot of women want more balance in their life, but balance is hard to maintain. Instead of trying to stay perfectly balanced all the time (an impossible act!), the Bible challenges us to pay attention to the season of life we’re in and recognize the beautiful rhythms of life.
My hope and prayer is that through this study you’ll not only recognize the wondrous season God has you in right now but that you’ll embrace it as a gift and, in the process, become more Christlike each and every day.
This week, we’re giving away THREE COPIES of the new Women of Faith Bible Study: A Time for Everything by Margaret Feinberg. This 12-session spiral-bound Bible study is great for individual or group use.
Congratulations to the winners: Shelli Sexton, Deidra Lowery, Gina Marriott
To enter to win, leave a comment on the original blog post at MargaretFeinberg.com. The winners will be selected and announced on Friday.
What season of life do you find yourself in right now?
Thank you for the givaway!
I find my season in life is one where I want to sit at the feet of Jesus and see what he wants me to do this day not want I think I should do 🙂
Janet, God is reminding me of the same idea. Waiting for him to give me direction every step of the way. Praying for you as you sit at his feet! May you never tire of doing so.
A season of letting go of things that do not serve God’s purpose for me.
I’m currently in that season of life where I’m teetering on the edge of an empty nest. Both of my boys are in high school with the oldest a senior this year. The changes are coming fast and furious and there are days when I feel like I can’t keep up.
Kelli– Praying that during this fast pace season, you find time to breathe in the moments and be wonderstruck in the midst of change. Hug to you!
A seaso of waiting for the provision to be on the mission field long-term.
Thank you for your willingness to serve others in mission work, Erin! Praying that God opens doors wide for you and your team.
Sounds like a wonderful study!
A few years ago, while doing the “Sacred Echoes” study I sensed God telling me to “do less.”
“OK,” I said. “What does that mean?” And I tried to do less. Really I did. For a variety of reasons I think I’m finally beginning to understand. So I’m currently in the season of “Do less.”
Elisa– Praying God continues to reveal what he means by “do less.” May you be filled with more of his presence every day!
Seasons come and seasons go but God’s love remains constant. This is a message that we all need to hear, but as women we often do not trust that God does allow time for everything especially time for worshipping. I look forward to exploring this study.
Yes! Amen, Gina!
Approaching a mid-fifty-ish birthday and having just spent part of the summer in Malawi, Africa, this is a season of quiet reflection and priority setting for the days, months, and years ahead.
season of giving encouragement to several close friends. knowing I need to keep my relationship with God in very close communication and listening to Him in every way so I point these friends to Him and give wisdom and truth from scripture.
My season is one of bringing up kids, and trying to stay afloat.
I am in a season of reprioritizing and rearranging. I’ve cut some hours from work. Trying to remember what is truly important in the crazy of this life!
Praying for you, Dawn, as you faithfully re prioritize life!
I would love to win this study.
Yet another study I cannot WAIT to start teaching!
Sounds like what I need to study (since it fits with the Sacred Echo in my life currently).
Recently I’ve moved from full time ministry to being the caregiver for my husband who has leukemia – two very different seasons. I know I would be encouraged by Margaret’s study…
Praying for you during this time, Sherilyn. May the Lord fill you with his rest and peace.
My season is applying the wisdom I have been given for several years in various formal programs. I continue to learn beyond the theory to life. Amen for the timing of the teaching to the application time. A time for everything in its season,
I had the joy of hearing Margaret speak last weekend. I am so blessed to know that she is sharing God’s word and her passion for Him is such a powerful way. No doubt this study will be a great one!
Great giveaway!
I find myself in the season of seeking and waiting and moreseeking for the next step in life. I’m learning to enjoy this time of resting in Him.
I am just starting your Genesis study and am looking forward to being in God’s word this summer. I am in a season of reflection – trying to figure out where to go from here.
Praying for you as you seek clarity. May God fill you with comfort and rest in the plans he has in store!
I am lucky to be in a season of spending time with God and learning from Him every day. This Bible study sounds as though it would enrich that time, and my ability to be His light to others. Thank you for the opportunity to enter, Margaret.
I would love to do this Bible Study! We named our small group Seasons of Life after this verse because we are forever changing!
I am in a season of renewal and due cluttering my life.
That’s “de-cluttering”
I am definitely in a seasonal shift and am struggling with just what that change may mean me! It’s truly a time of trying to be still and listen to what God would have of me, instead of filling my days and my time with what I think I should be doing. This sounds like a GREAT study for such a time as this!
This study sounds wonderful. I’m in an interesting season of life – lots of change as my youngest just married, my oldest had our first grandchild and I just stopped working FT!
Yay! SO many exciting changes happening, Pamela! May you find rest and peace during your season of transition.
I find myself in a transitional season…the kids are grown and have left the nest, I’m not quite old enough to retire yet, no grand babies yet….just waiting and enjoying this phase…thanks for a chance to win.
This sounds like an excellent study!
My current season of life has me with one kid going into his second year of high school, and the other kid going into her last year of elementary school. My baby officially becomes a teen in three months’ time, and she’s already challenging me. God is teaching me patience. LOL
Thank you, Margaret (& Thomas Nelson), for the chance to win a copy of this study!
A time for sowing and a tine for reaping, I go through the seasons of life as my children are growing up, enjoying those seasons however is something I still need to master.
Shelly C has expressed my thoughts. I , too, struggle to make sure I am listening to God and doing what he wants me to do in this season of my life.
I’m entering a new season that I’ve seen coming for some time….entering with some trepidation. My mother is 90 and has come to live 1 mile from my home – we have lived at minimum an 8 hour drive from each other for 35 years. My kids are grown and launching, but still have needs. My husband is gone 5-6 days per week. And…I’m starting a new job. Wow, balance and boundaries are in great need, and listening to and accepting the new seasons for all of my loved ones is on my heart. I’d love to walk through this study with my mother this fall.
Thanks for sharing God’s word in such a marvelous way Margaret!
Praying that God’s goodness overwhelms and saturates you during this season, Karen!
My kids are a bit older now and I’m finding more time for myself and wondering what God wants me to be doing. I’d love to win this study.
What season of life do you find yourself in right now? In a season testing and adversity. The past couple of years have been very hard – one thing after another. I’m just trying to keep Romans 8:28 in my mind and heart during this time.
Praying for God to overwhelm you with his love, Angela!
I don’t really know what to call my current situation . . . except unique.
I’ve been married just a year. I’m 41 years old, but I’ve never been married before. I have no children of my own, but I have a twelve year old step-son. He and I are learning together how to be a family (every other weekend) while he becomes a teenager.
I’m a teacher, without a classroom. Subbing until I get a REAL job and struggling not to pull my hair out every time I read lesson plans that say “Pass out the worksheets and monitor the children as they complete the assignment on their own.” So I don’t get to teach at all . . . again. Just a little boring, and kids don’t like boring.
So, what do you call this season?
Praying that God reminds you how worthy and loved you are, Kristi! That he reveals the reason for the season you are in and you can find joy in the midst of the struggles.
I am about to enter a new season without any children at home. This empty nest season has me evaluating where I should spend my time and asking the Lord what He is calling me to do!
I find myself in what I think of as the summer season of my life. Our kids are grown and I’m enjoying grand-parenting immensely! This is a season of gratitude for so many blessings bestowed upon me and my loved ones over the years. It’s also a time of listening to God and embracing my changing role in His plan. My faith continues to grow and my gratitude overflows!
I am in the middle of week 1 of the current study, currently catching up today. I have enjoyed previous studies of Margaret’s. I love the verse, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV. In life their is a time for everything. Thank you for all you do in creating different bible studies.
As I lead discussions I am always surprised at the variety of life challenges in the group. I’m sure this study would be a welcome one.
I’m in a season of transition.
In a transition season with teenagers! Sounds like a wonderful study! 🙂
Long season of transition.
Ecclesiastes is one of the most relevant texts for the 21st century world….
This sounds like a wonderful study that I could benefit from as I approach retirement and wonder what that will be like. How will it feel to not be ‘needed’ as so much identity is tied to my employment. Volunteering somewhere is a possibly but where can I fill the greatest need?
May God make it clear the purpose he has for you in the next season of your life!
I’m in a season of coming & going. I am trying to keep up with our household, my dad recently started doing dialysis 3x week due to kidney cancer/failure, mom just finished chemo for Stage 3 breast cancer and I am on stand-by to watch my 5 y/o grandson. Whew! Praising God for strength to carry on. Sounds like a wonderful study … thanks for the give away!
Praying for abundant strength, grace, peace, and joy in the midst. May God wrap you in his arms, Kelly, and remind you again and again how loved you are. May he fill you with his rest and may you lead and love out of your weakness so that HE may be strong!
Hi Margaret,
This would be great study to do while I recover from an upcoming surgery….and as a leader of a life group…one to do with the girls!!
Blessings, and thank you,
Tina
I have recently transitioned into a new season of life and am always looking to God for His help. Margaret is a very insightful teacher.
Throughout my Christian journey I have commented to many of my friends that we go through different seasons. When our children are little, it’s a season of being a full time mother to them. When they attended school, my season was volunteering at their school and substitue teaching. When they hit high school, I stayed at home to help them with homework and taking them to their many various activities. When they started college, I pursued photography and writing. So many different seasons with many careers.
Margaret, I have enjoyed reading many of your books: Wonderstruck; Pursuing God’s Beauty and now I’m reading Pursing God’s Love. God is opening my eyes each and every day to Who He is in profound and marvelous ways.
I look forward to reading your new book!
I really like the quote that you pulled out about how each season of life has something to teach us about God. I’m at the tail end of a very trying season of life and I’m so thankful that God is showing me how He is able to use that season and how faithful He proved even when it seemed like He was a long way off.
Looks like an exciting study!
I’m in the season of prep school for purpose. God has His purpose for me and He is teaching me all the nuances I will need in order to glorify Him at every turn.
So, if we’re looking at Ecclesiastes, I’m in that keep/throw away season.
This sounds like an excellent and relevant study. I would love the opportunity to win this as I am going through a season of life as a young twenty something trying to find where I fit in, my calling in life a d how to be obedient to God. I know it’s at these times, I need to let go and rely on God. Thanks and have a great week!
Tara– I think the season you describe is something people continue to go through. Praying that in this season of life God makes himself abundantly present!
tears. A season of ‘not sure’.
Selling our farm… home for the past 28 years…. and not sure where to land.
I don’t handle change very well. This is HARD. Need to trust.
This sounds like the perfect study for me. Love your post/art.
Praying that God wraps you in his loving arms and guides you one step at a time, Nina. May you find peace and assurance in him!
Since Dad passed away earlier this month, I’ve been reminded in a new way of what a legacy he lived. Keeping his wise, spiritual words and actions in my heart, I choose to live as he did, with joy and sincere love for others. Tis a season of grief, but joy is not in the circumstances. Seeing pixie dust in many new ways 🙂
Denise, your comment leaves me with goosebumps. May God continue to reveal facets of himself even in the midst of pain and grief.
Perfect for me… We have been approached with a new ministry that will take us away from our present church, which we dearly love and are growing in. I am torn up about leaving our “Place to Call Home”. My husband is sure this is what we are supposed to do. I am searching for God’s guidance and praying Proverbs 3:4-6 but no answer. A time for tears is my season. Would love to study and share this study.
Thank you for stepping out in faithfulness and loving the Bride! Hug to you, Angela!
In a season of trying to make sure I “finish well”. At 53, I realize how little time I may have left to make a difference in the life of others and for the Kingdom of God.
Trying to consider, “what have I left unsaid & to whom”, or “left undone”? What really matters to me and have I done all I can to pursue after it? When all is said and done here on this earth, I want to hear “Well done my good and faithful servant”.
I am in a long season of waiting. I feel I am nearing the end of this season, hovering on the brink of the next chapter. I’ve been hunkered down, studying God’s Word like crazy, now it is time to apply all that He has taught me!! Waiting for Him to align opportunities and looking forward to where He is taking me!
I’d love to win & go through this study!
I would love to win 🙂 right now I’m in a season of…like Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” …dwelling where I am and focusing on where He has me in this season in my ministr and working on trusting Him more!!
I’m trying to figure out exactly what this season of my life is all about. Unusual opportunities are presenting themselves, and I don’t know exactly what to do. Maybe the study would help!
I am in a season of new learning….as a continual learner in my career field and collector of college degrees; I now find myself in a new season learning about God’s Word…..being baptized as a child, but then years in adulthood in what I call “the wasteland” of rejecting God and feeling I only had myself to turn to in good or bad times, I was left me with chronic depression which ebbed and flowed, depending on external circumstance and my ability to solve problems alone. Finally, I gave myself to God and and I am now trying to live and learn in a way I never have in the past…with God at my side, with yearning to absorb his Word.
My season is learning how to remain calm and trust in God’s plan for my life as I live through the upheaval of betrayal, divorce and tremendous change. Thankfully, God’s love never changes!
I am in a season of growth. The more I learn the more I realize I barely know anything. I am hungry for God and his word and to get to know him better, not just know more about him. To love him and desire him and him alone. And not worry about what I should be doing for him, but to let all that happen as he wills it. Less action, more worship.
This was our study in Life Group this week! Looking forward to reading your insights.
I find myself in a season of trying my best to actively wait on God. I don’t have a steady income right now (teaching a few clarinet lessons here and there) but I know that God has incredible things planned for my life! I’m in a season where I long for a Godly man to walk with me, but am well aware that God is preparing my heart until that right guy comes along. Just working to stay busy with my church and praise Him through the musical talents He has blessed me with!
With one child beginning Kindergarten next week and the other beginning middle school, I believe transition is my current season. We’ve recently laid down a ministry of four years that we LOVED but were being called to move on from and that was oh-so-difficult and yet I have peace. For the first time in 11 years I’ll be home by myself during the day with fewer responsibilities and I don’t know whether know whether or not to rejoice or be terrified. Good thing I get to begin this season with a trip to Maine. 😉
Thank you for the give away! The last two years have been a series of transitions, loss, birth, and feeling a lot of silence from God. I am excited about this study and what God wants to teach us about these seasons.
Oh…yes life is full of seasons… I am 56 and this phase of life I full of transitions… God has planted a desire of finishing strong … So I am longing to be changed… This study sounds great… Thanks for the opportunity to win
I’d love to dig in! 🙂
Love your studies and have really enjoyed hearing you the last 2 years in Pensacola at the Extraordinary Women Conference. Our group is in a season of change in many different ways, we would love to use this bible study to further our growth with God at our women’s retreat in September
We love our time in Pensacola for eWomen!
I am certainly in a season of change. Left my job to keep my two grandchildren full time who are such joy to me. My life is so different from what it has been and I am still trying to figure out the balance of being Mimi and sharing stories from the bible and also having time for myself and bible study. I recently heard in a Sunday School lesson that where we are now, is exactly where God wants us to be. Draw near to Him. My desire is to lead a bible study for young moms and young women trying to balance career and family. Thank you Margaret for sharing your words with us.
Love the giveaways. Right now I think I’m in a season of waiting. Waiting to see where God’s going to move, where he wants me to be and being patient. Patience is not my strongest virtue.