Stages and Seasons of the Life of a Woman
King Solomon acknowledges that the timing of life in under the control of the LORD God. “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1. Life for a woman comes in many different stages understanding the different stages help women to be prepared and to adjust for each stage of life and keep your focus on Jesus.
There are many different life situations that are unique to women. Each of these life situations contains a purpose or a calling from the LORD God. Each one can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. There are those women that have never been married. There are the women who are married with no children. There are the single mothers, the divorced woman and the woman who have been widowed. There are the married women with children. There are the women in their senior years that are either singled or married.
Each one of these different life situations can serve the LORD God in the capacity that the LORD chooses for each woman. There is no right or wrong in the life of a woman. “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” Psalm 130:5-6
Looking at the life of a married woman with children one finds that there are many different stages of development. First you have to find the man of your dream, the man you have asked the LORD to help you find this is the pre-marriage stage. This stage takes courage and faith in the LORD to not get caught up in the worldly way of life. This takes dedication in the LORD and the knowledge that there is one man out there for you. It will take time to find him and trust that his walk with Christ is the same as yours.
Once the pre-marriage stage is over it leads into newly married stage. This is the stage where romance is still alive but is not as prominent at the pre-marriage stage. The couple is still learning about each other and dealing with making their lives one by dealing with the excess baggage they both bring into the union. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
The next occurrence is the pregnancy stage. This is a stage that is both frightening and exciting at the same time. Everything the couple has learned about each other can be forgotten with the fluctuation of hormones and the flooding of tears. This takes faith, courage and endurance from both partners. “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
The day of giving birth to this new bouncing bundle of joy brings its own challenges to the next stage. This can be such a blessing in the life of the mother and father. It can also be a nightmare if you are not prepared. Parenting should be done together as a team from the very beginning. It is not just one parent’s responsibility to raise the children. It is a partnership and understanding and patience should be observed at all cost. The mother nurtures and the father helps teach. The couple should not lose sight of each other and should still keep their relationship alive. The children will someday leave to begin their own lives; the couple will be together forever. “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Psalm 31:24
The married woman with children will face the empty nest syndrome. This is the stage when the children leave to begin their own lives. This is the stage when the husband and wife get to get re-acquainted again at the place where they are now. Even when the children move back home the focus should be on each other and not the children who have moved back. It is like beginning a life over again with each other. “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20.
The next stage is becoming a mother-in-law. The story of Ruth is the best example of how to be a wonderful mother –in- law. Loving her daughter, Ruth, Naomi taught her the ways of the LORD and that is how all woman of Christ should be. Ruth said to Naomi: “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:” Ruth 1:16.
Becoming a grandmother is the next progression in our stages of life. This can be such a wonderful blessing. You have to decide together what your role of a grandmother is going to be. You are not the babysitter, unless that is the role you want. You do not have to be the provider, unless that is what you want the role to be. How much do you want to be involved with the grandbaby is the question you have answer. There is no right or wrong role of a grandmother. You must first be true to yourself and true to the LORD God and what He expects from you. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
The golden years are our next stage. Menopause and retirement are both part of our wonderful golden years. This stage may introduce us to the death of our parents or husband. Death can come at any stage. We may have to face illness and being alone. This stage it is important to keep your focus on Jesus. Take you concerns to the LORD God in prayer and be silent and listen to His reply it takes time to hear the message the LORD God is speak to you personally. You have to spend time in His Word so you can speak in the same language. Remember in all things to remain faithful. We are to be faithful in every part of our journey with Him. There is nowhere is it written that we need to be successful or wealthy or even super intelligent just faithful to Him. “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Psalm 34:15
These different stages a woman travels through can experience good times or hard times there can be laughter or tears; poverty or wealth; sickness or health. All is in the hands of the LORD in His timing. There is so much more that can be said about each one of these stages. Every woman goes through them in their own way. Be willing to adjust and embrace the changes demanded at each stage in your life. You are never alone in any of these stages because there are others who have gone before you and Jesus is always there. My prayer is no matter which stage you are in your life you are journeying through it hand in hand in Jesus.
Just like there are stages a woman travels there are also seasons a woman will also travel through. There is the “Spring”: this is a representative of the newness of life, the beginnings of freedom. It is when our expectation of life begins. Just like the flower of spring pops their heads out of the ground the springs of the life of a woman is the time her life begins for her. She realizes she has her whole life before her and can choose what she wants to do with it.
The next season is “summer” of the life of a woman. It is her following her pursuit of their interests, hobbies and occupation. The summer is the moving from the adolescence where someone else controls our desires to reaching for adulthood where the woman follows their own ambitions.
The “fall” of the life of a woman is the time of reflection. Things are slowing down and the aging process is being noted. It is the time of contemplation of values or priorities. Aging issues have to be confronted and maybe even failures that have occurred. Priorities have changed and midlife crisis must be acknowledged. This is the season when most women are facing their own mortality for the first time.
The final season is the season of “Winter” in the life of a woman. There are physical restrictions that are unexpected and other age-related illnesses that women are never prepared for. The weight changes, hair falls out and limitations in energy and desire. This is the season when death comes.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1. This is the plan of the LORD God it is the circle of life. We are blessed to have a Savior, Jesus Christ, that experienced these stages and seasons before us and we know when our seasons end that we will be forever in His arms.
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “Stages and Seasons of the Life of a Woman:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2302,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “Stages and Seasons of the Life of a Woman:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2302,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “Stages and Seasons of the Life of a Woman:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2302, (accessed).
