The past three posts, I’ve been reflecting on Seasons of Faith and where I am currently. The greatest phase of faith peaks in the Love Phase. The Love Phase integrates all that we’ve learned about God, about ourselves, about the value of doing right things for right reasons, but most importantly about loving others in a broken, messed up world. We find renewed Honeymoon Phase love for God in this season. We don’t throw out the practices and disciples of the Growth Phase, but we’re not rigidly bound by them. They are not the end, but the means. They serve us instead of us serving them (Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath”). We no longer childishly do these things to prove we’re “good,” but instead we embrace disciplines to help us “love”—God first, then others. There is a new sense of freedom and peace and a joy that comes from within because the Desert Phase pried open our hands to help us hold loosely to things which we have no control over, yet cling tightly to the God of hope who alone can create good in us, even out of every evil (Romans 8:28-29). This sets us free in ways we never imagined. And the outcome of this phase is that we want to help others. Not out of motivation to be “good,” but out of an experience of “being loved by God” and feeling secure. We have more to give, and we want to serve others out of compassion.

So where am I right now? After reflecting on the Honeymoon, Growth, Desert, and Love Phases of spiritual growth, where am I? Here’s the weird thing—I’ve found myself in at least three of the four places this year alone! I’ve felt let down by God, and I was forced into a more accurate view of life with God. I’ve gotten more disciplined at times, and I’ve felt that First Love excitement renewed. That’s why I contend these phases are not really linear where you do step 1, then 2, then 3, then 4. But more of a spiraling upward, cycling through these phases over the years, sometimes in one season for a short time, sometimes for years. What do you see as you reflect on your season of faith?