A SEASON TO HIBERNATE

A Response to "A Season to Hibernate"

The Seasons of Life

The Bible tells us that to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Everything has its time. There are seasons of planting and seasons of harvest. Seasons of joy and seasons of sorrow. Seasons of activity and seasons of rest. Seasons of going out and seasons of staying in. We must learn to recognize the seasons and to respond accordingly. There is a time to move forward and a time to be still. A time to speak and a time to remain silent. A time to act and a time to wait.

The Season of Hibernation

Animals that sleep through the winter are said to hibernate. They retreat, rest, and conserve their energy until the season changes. This word can also describe a person remaining inactive or indoors for an extended period. There are times when God calls His people to hibernate—to stay inside, to be still, and to wait for His timing. This is not a time of laziness; it is a time of preparation. It is not a time of wasting; it is a time of waiting. It is not a time of isolation; it is a time of intimate communion with God.

The Example of Passover

One classical example of hibernation is the night of the Passover. God sent the angel of death to kill the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. But the Israelites were instructed to stay indoors. They were to sacrifice a lamb and smear the blood on the doorposts of their houses. The angel would pass over the houses of the Israelites. They were safe because they obeyed and stayed inside. They were protected because they followed God's instructions. Isaiah 26:20 echoes this principle: "Go home, my people, and lock your doors! Hide yourselves for a little while until the LORD's anger has passed." There are times when God calls His people to stay inside, to lock the doors, and to wait for His anger to pass.

The Cause of God's Anger

What would have caused the Lord's anger? There ought to be a valid reason for His intolerance. God's anger is not arbitrary; it is a response to sin and rebellion. Deuteronomy 4:2 commands, "Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you." Revelation 22:18-19 warns that anyone who adds to or removes from the words of prophecy will face judgment. God's anger is provoked when His people disobey His commands, distort His Word, and reject His authority. The season of hibernation may be a time of protection from the consequences of sin, or it may be a time of preparation for the restoration that follows.

The Fairness of God

Whatever has already happened in time past, we cannot undo. We cannot change the past. We cannot reverse the consequences. However, we need to stay indoor for our own safety. Nevertheless, we can be rest assured just as Abraham said, "Will you kill good and bad alike? Suppose you find fifty godly people there within the city—will you destroy it, and not spare it for their sakes? Should not the Judge of all the earth be fair?" God is fair. He is just. He will not treat the godly and the wicked the same. He protects His people. He preserves His remnant. In the season of hibernation, we trust in His justice and His mercy.

The Purpose of Hibernation

When we come out of this winter season, we would have already known what the Lord wants us to do. The time of waiting is not wasted. The time of hiding is not empty. It is a time of seeking, learning, and growing. Jeremiah 29:13 promises, "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Hibernation is a time to seek God with all our hearts. It is a time to pray, to repent, and to draw near to Him. It is a time to prepare for what He wants to do next.

The Call to Humility and Prayer

Second Chronicles 7:14 declares, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." This is the call of the season. Humble yourselves. Pray. Seek God's face. Turn from your wicked ways. When we do, God hears, forgives, and heals. The winter season is not just about waiting; it is about turning. It is not just about hiding; it is about humbling. It is not just about staying indoors; it is about seeking God.

Final Reflection

A season to hibernate is a season to trust. It is a time to wait on God, to seek His face, and to prepare for what He has planned. It is a time to be still and know that He is God. It is a time to be protected under His wings. Do not despise the season of waiting. Do not resist the season of hiding. It is for your protection and preparation. When the season ends, you will know what the Lord wants you to do. You will be ready to move forward with Him.

Prayer for the Season

Lord, help me to recognize the seasons of life. Help me to know when to wait and when to move. In this season of hibernation, help me to seek You with all my heart. Protect me under Your wings. Humble me and turn me from my wicked ways. Let me not waste this time of waiting but use it to grow closer to You. I trust that when the season ends, I will know what You want me to do. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.