Seasons of a Woman's Soul

Week 1
Fall~ Transition
Change,letting go, dying, end of production, good-bye, death of a dream, preparation for winter, loss, disappointment
John 12:24 "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit."
Intro to Fall:
God designed each season with careful thought and purpose. We have four distinct seasons and not one of them is more or less significant than the others. We begin our study of Joseph with his fall season. Fall is a season of transition and change. God positioned autumn as a bridge between the production of summer and the rest of winter. In the high-plains of Wyoming, where I lived half my life, fall comes on suddenly; one week we are having a picnic in the grass and the next week a cold wind blows in with unexpected flurries announcing the season has changed. In nature, growth slows, the trees and bushes stop producing their fruit and flowers. The flowers dry up to empty stocks. The colors change- a beautiful death of leaves. Nature begins her transition. She lets go of the busyness of summer and the days of productivity and orients herself toward quieter and calmer days. A fall season of the soul correlates with a season of transition and change in our lives. Maybe you say good-bye to your friends and move to a new state. A transition from studies to a career. Maybe you take a break from working full-time in the office to begin a season as a stay at home mom. Maybe the relationship you thought would last forever ends. Fall is transition time in our lives. A time of loss, sadness, grief and letting go of what we had before. Fall often represents the death of a dream in our lives. A hope we carried in our hearts must now be let to rest. It can be emotionally difficult and often devastating: a season we try to avoid if we can; however, God has a purpose for our fall seasons. Although it can be painful and confusing, God is in the middle of it, using everything for our good. God uses our fall seasons of transition to lead us to new destinations- places of purpose and influence.
BIBLE STUDY
1. Say your name, your favorite season and why you like it:
2. When looking at nature, what happens in fall?
A Look At Joseph:
Read Genesis 37:1-36
3. What things did Joseph lose in this life transition?
4. What kind of emotions do you think Joseph experienced when he arrived in his new home?
5. How did he respond?
6. How could Joseph have responded?
7. What attitudes of the heart do you think the Lord working on?
*Fall Key Verse: John 12:24 "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit."
-grain of wheat = our dreams, hopes, plans
-dies = death or letting go
-produces fruit: we need fall for summer and fruitful seasons of life
8. How does this verse relate to fall?
9. How did Joseph get through this difficult time? (what did he put his hope in?) Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the thoughts I have toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
10. How does this verse encourage us during hard seasons of life?
*Genesis 39:1-4 (The Lord was with Joseph, the Lord gave him favor with Potiphar, the Lord blessed him.)
Fall Response Questions:(discuss in groups of three people)
1. How can you recognize when you are in a fall season?
2. What should you do if you are in fall?
3. What pit-falls should you be aware of?
4. What can you put your hope in during this season?
5. Share a time when you had a difficult life transition or had to let go of what you were familiar with:
6. Where was God in your loss?
Close:
Close by praying for God to heal the pain we have experienced from our losses.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Looking ahead: In preparation for next week’s study, please read Genesis 39:1-20.
Journal