Season
A phase of life — "a hard season," "a season of waiting" — understood as temporary and, in some way, God's timing. Duration unspecified.
What they actually mean
“"The phase I'm in right now. Could be a month. Could be years."”
Heard in the wild
“We're just in a busy season right now.”
“God has me in a season of waiting.”
The Lighter Side
A period of time that can be anywhere from two weeks to eleven years. Nobody knows when a season ends. Farmers are baffled by this usage.
The longer version
What it means
In Christian talk, a "season" is a stretch of life with a particular character: a busy season, a hard season, a season of grief, a season of waiting, a season of growth. The word says two things at once. First, this phase is temporary — seasons change. Second, it's not random — God has a reason for it, even if nobody can see one yet. When someone says "I'm in a hard season," they mean "life is difficult right now, and I'm trusting it won't always be."
Why people say it
"Season" lets people name something hard without making it their identity. "I'm depressed" is a label; "I'm in a hard season" is a location, and you can leave a location. It also carries a quiet faith claim: seasons come from God's timing, not chance. And it's a kind way to decline things — "we're in a busy season" is a no that nobody can argue with.
How to respond
If someone tells you they're in a hard season, they've told you something is wrong and invited you to ask, gently, or not. "I'm sorry — do you want to talk about it?" works. If someone says they're in a busy season, they're declining, and you should let them. If someone says "God has me in a season of waiting," they're telling you something they wanted hasn't happened and they're trying to be patient about it. Don't say "everything happens for a reason"; they've already said that to themselves, better.
If you hear it in different churches
Evangelical, charismatic, and non-denominational mostly. The vocabulary is a product of the modern Christian self-help and devotional world. Catholic and Orthodox Christians think in seasons too — but they mean Advent, Lent, and Easter, the actual liturgical calendar, which is a different use of the same word.
Where does “Season” come from?
Ecclesiastes 3 — "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" — is the source, along with Psalm 1's tree that yields fruit "in season." The theological idea that God ordains times and phases of life is ancient. The conversational use, as a name for whatever phase you're in, grew out of American evangelical devotional writing and preaching in the 1990s and 2000s, when "seasons of life" became a common sermon-series title and a way of talking about marriage, parenting, and calling. It's now standard evangelical English.
Good to know
"Season" is one of the gentlest pieces of Christianese — it's how people talk about hard things without labeling them permanent. But it's also vague enough to be an evasion. "I'm in a season" can mean "please don't ask." Take the hint.
You might also hear
Walk (Your Walk
Salvation & ConversionHow a person lives out their faith day to day — their ongoing relationship with God, as opposed to the moment they became a Christian.
“"My spiritual life, and how it's actually going."”
Praying Through
Prayer & DevotionContinuing to pray about something persistently — over days, weeks, or years — until it resolves or until you find peace about it.
“"Praying about it until something gives — the situation, or me."”
Open Door
Spiritual Warfare & SupernaturalAn opportunity that appears (open door) or falls through (closed door), read as God's "yes" or "no" about a decision.
“"It worked out, so I think God wanted it. (Or: it fell through, so I think He didn't.)"”
Common questions
How long is a season?+
There's no rule. A busy season might be a month; a season of waiting might be years. The word is about the character of the time, not its length.
Why not just say "phase" or "time"?+
"Season" adds a faith claim: it's temporary, and God's timing is in it. It's also softer.
Is "I'm in a season" a way of avoiding the question?+
Sometimes. If someone says it and doesn't elaborate, they'd probably rather not — and that's fine.
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Written by Rev. Christopher D.F. Warrington, Ordained Minister, M.Div. · Updated September 2026
This entry was compiled with AI assistance and has not yet been reviewed by an ordained pastor.