Sometimes, it seems like God’s plan is a puzzle we have to try to put together, especially when we pray for direction and wait on His answer. How can we know what God wants us to do? How can we be sure that He’s hearing our prayers and is preparing to change our lives? Even when it looks like God is leaving it up to us to figure it out, in reality, He’s working behind the scenes, and we can’t see what’s happening yet.
Even though we don’t have to guess His plans, there are a few signs that He’s getting ready to flip the script on us. As we practice discernment, we can learn to recognize these signs so we can pray over them and ask God to confirm His will to us. Here are a few signs that God is preparing you for a new season.
You Feel Restless
This is typically the first sign you’ll experience when God prepares you for a shift. You’ll start to feel ready for change, even when you’re not sure of what kind of change. Also, your passion for what you’re doing may begin to fade or shift. For example, if you’ve been passionate about serving in a specific ministry for years, but that passion suddenly fades, that may be a sign God is getting you ready to move to a new place. It’s important to note that restlessness doesn’t equate to burnout. Usually, nothing changes externally, but there’s an internal shift in your thoughts and feelings about your current juncture. When you feel restless, pray and ask God why you’re feeling this way.
Doors Start Closing
This sign may be frustrating, but closed doors could be a sign of God’s protection and preparation. A great biblical example is in Acts 16:6-10; the Holy Spirit stopped Paul and his comrades from ministering in certain places. Doors kept closing, but Paul kept trying new doors. Eventually, Paul received a vision about a man from Macedonia asking for help, and Paul recognized that God was telling them to go there. If doors keep closing and nothing is working out for you, it may be God keeping you from those things. God could have something bigger in store for you. When doors start closing, ask God to lead you to an open door. Also, ask Him if there’s anything He needs to do within you to prepare you for that open door.
Doors Start Opening
When things start happening unexpectedly, that’s usually a sign that God is giving you the first steps to your new calling or season. It can be unclear at first, but as you start seeing new opportunities appear, it can also be exciting. Esther, David, and Joseph are just a few examples of people who experienced circumstances beyond their control. Each time, God was the one moving and working behind a closed door to bring them to a place of more excellent service for His glory. If you see an unexpected door opening on your horizon, approach it prayerfully. Ask God to close it if it’s not from Him. However, if it is from Him, ask Him to leave it open.
You Notice a Recurring Theme
If specific topics keep popping up in your world, God may be sending signs that this theme is related to your new season. You may also start to have a burden for something you hadn’t before. You may also begin to feel drawn toward a specific ministry, job, or area that you didn’t feel drawn to before. Sensing a new burden is God’s way of stirring our hearts in preparation for a new calling. If you notice a recurring theme or feel any new duties, ask God for guidance and insight in that particular area. God doesn’t want us to be confused, so He will keep confirming His will for us if we’re obediently seeking Him.
You See Things Differently
When you’re transitioning to a new season, God tends to make you uncomfortable. He’ll urge you to change your perspective on things. You may start to look at places, people, and things with fresh eyes. For example, you could be in a relationship and believe that your partner is the one. However, if God is preparing you for a new relationship, you may start to see your partner differently. Things they did that you thought were cute aren’t cute anymore, and you begin to change your perspective. God is urging you to move forward, and you should follow His lead. It may be best to resist the urge to put on your rose-colored glasses and allow yourself to see the world as it is. By doing so, you will find out what needs to change. If God is opening your eyes, look closely. God may be trying to show you something that you’ve never seen before.
Trust God's Timing
When it’s time for a new season, God will bring it to pass with or without your help. When we learn to let go of the puzzle pieces and give them to God, we can watch Him put the pieces together for us. The key to getting through a season change is staying surrendered in prayer. If we remain focused on Him and seek His glory above our own, He will not only bring about His plans for us, but He’ll confirm them, establish them, and bless them above anything we could imagine.
Season changes in our lives are similar to the season changes of nature. The trees get rid of their old leaves to make room for new ones. When God is preparing us for a new season, He has to get rid of our old habits to make way for new patterns. We can’t go into our new season with the practices from our previous season. Changing seasons can be a challenge, but when God tells us to move, we must move. By staying in our last season, we’re blocking our blessings for what’s to come. When we’re transitioning into a new season, the biggest thing to remember is that God wants what’s best for us. We must trust Him and watch Him work.
