“(1) To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: (2) A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; (3) A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; (4) A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; (5) A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; (6) A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; (7) A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; ( A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV
Throughout my years of ministry, I’ve had the privilege of praying for many people, each with their own unique journey and challenges. One encounter that stands out in my memory is whilst in Africa when a seasoned pastor approached me with a heavy heart. He confided in me his lingering concern over prophetic words he had received years before regarding his life and ministry. Despite eagerly anticipating their fulfilment, he found himself still waiting, grappling with a sense of disappointment and confusion. As the proverb goes, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12). This pastor’s experience is not uncommon; many of us have felt the weight of unfulfilled prophetic words spoken over us. In such occasions, our faith can be sorely tested, and doubts may even arise as we agonise over why the Word, which once brought such joy or hope, has not yet materialized.
Indeed, there are many reasons why a prophetic word may not yet have come to pass or if it ever will. Not least, our expectations may be misaligned with God’s timing because we lack clarity regarding the season in which the Word is meant to manifest.
I want to highlight this point and how important it is for us to understand this correlation between a prophetic word and the season for which that word belongs because often a prophetic word has an expiry date!
Just as fruit ripens in its due season, so too, the fulfilment of a prophetic word aligns with God’s timing. Merely receiving a prophetic word is not always sufficient; sometimes understanding the season to which it belongs is equally important.
The writer of Ecclesiastes informs us “to everything there is a season,” then provides a beautiful litany of events and actions with which we are well familiar. The point is that things have a season to which they belong. It takes wisdom and discernment to know how to partner with a prophetic Word within its season and when to surrender it back into the hands of our loving Father, trusting in His perfect timing.
If we are not able to let go, then the Word which started as a blessing can easily become a burden and keep us locked into the past long after the Spirit of God starts blowing in a new direction.
I believe there are words spoken over us that we need to let go of before we can enter into the new season God has. This principle can also apply on a national level too. I hope you hear me on this, I’m not saying to dismiss historic prophetic words over our nation that have not yet been fulfilled, but I am saying there comes a time in which seasons change, and those words no longer apply yet can keep us misaligned from God is saying now.
You may be curious about the outcome for the pastor who was grappling with these questions and concerns. Well, I’m glad to say as I waited on the Lord, I heard in my spirit to counsel the pastor to let go of all the prophetic words he was holding onto, and whichever ones had not expired would come back to him with a fresh anointing. The Lord brought the wisdom we needed with which we were able to pray most effectively together. Listen to the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 11:1
“Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days.”
In this context, if we see “bread” as the Word of the Lord, we can let go and it will create a space either to find it again or into which the Lord will speak something new, a “now” Word that will bring alignment into the season He is leading us.
As we navigate the journey of faith, let us seek God’s guidance in understanding the seasons of our lives, and may we have the courage to release what no longer serves His purpose, trusting that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
