Embracing the Seasons of Our Lives

Each season brings its new challenges and from it flows blessings.

Photo by alex geerts on Unsplash

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

As the days grow shorter and the crispness of autumn fills the air, I find myself reflecting on how the seasons of nature mirror the seasons of our lives. There’s a quiet beauty in watching the leaves change color, falling away to make room for something new—just as we too must let go of parts of ourselves to grow. I think back to when I struggled to release certain expectations I had of myself, holding on so tightly that I couldn’t see the new growth waiting just beyond the horizon.

You may remember the time I wrote about the trials we face when we hold onto things that no longer serve us, whether it’s relationships, habits, or ways of thinking. Just like the trees shedding their leaves in the fall, Allah in His wisdom calls us to let go, knowing that renewal can only happen when we make space for it.

The trials we face, the moments of hardship, are not without purpose. Allah reminds us in the Quran:

I’ve felt this truth deeply, as I’ve moved through the different chapters of my life—when loss felt unbearable, but from that same pain came clarity and inner peace. It’s a rhythm we see repeated in nature, in the lives of those who came before us, and most poignantly, in the Seerah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

In fact, the Prophet (ﷺ) experienced seasons of great difficulty and personal loss. One of the most profound examples was during the Year of Sorrow (Aam al-Huzn), when he lost both his beloved wife Khadijah (RA) and his protective uncle Abu Talib. It was a time of emotional winter for him, one that left him deeply affected. But even in this season of grief, he found solace in his unwavering connection to Allah, and the seeds of faith that he had planted in his heart years before were now strengthened.

Or when his (ﷺ) son Ibrahim was in his last breaths, he (ﷺ) shed tears, and grieved.

Imagine watching your small child take his last breath.  I can’t even fathom it! But some of you have suffered that loss. May Allah make it a means to Jannatul Firdaus جنۃ الفردوس for you Ameen.

Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

This story serves as a reminder that the "winter" moments in our lives, though cold and barren, are times of deep internal work. They give us the chance to turn inward, to reflect, and to plant the seeds of faith that will bloom in the future. If the Prophet (ﷺ) could emerge from such a trying period with renewed strength and determination, how much more hope should we have when facing our own difficulties?

Looking back on my own life, I remember a time when I felt everything was crumbling around me—both in my personal life and in the world at large. It was like being in the heart of winter, surrounded by darkness and cold. But just as winter makes way for spring, that dark period gave me the space to grow, to draw closer to Allah, and to lean into the reminder that

13:28

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٢٨

those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.

Spring eventually comes after every winter, bringing with it fresh hope, just as it did for the Prophet (ﷺ) when the mission of Islam gained momentum after the trials of Makkah. The fruits of patience and perseverance bloomed for him, and they will for us too, as long as we trust in the process Allah has designed for us.

But what about those times when life is in full bloom—when we are in our "summer" seasons? It’s easy to forget the cold of winter when the sun is shining bright. Yet, even in moments of ease, there’s wisdom to be found.

Allah reminds us in the Quran:

14:7

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌۭ ٧

And ˹remember˺ when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’”

Are we mindful of our blessings when life is good, or do we take them for granted? In an earlier newsletter, I reflected on the importance of gratitude during seasons of ease, something I’ve struggled with myself, especially when life seemed to be going well. You can revisit that reflection here.

Every season has its own lessons. Just as autumn is a time of reflection and letting go, spring is for renewal, summer for gratitude, and winter for introspection. The beauty of this cycle is that no season lasts forever. Even if you’re feeling the chill of winter right now, spring is always on the horizon, just as Allah has promised us in the Quran.

Photo by Marc Kleen on Unsplash

I want to leave you with a thought, something I’ve been pondering myself as I move through my own season of life. If you were to fully embrace the season you're in right now, what would you need to release? Is it fear, old patterns, or even expectations that no longer align with who you are becoming?

May Allah give us the strength to honor each season, to plant the seeds of faith when it's time, and to trust in His wisdom through every part of our journey, ameen.

Coaching Question:

Take time to ponder this question. Sit with for a few days and keep coming back to this question.

As you reflect on your current season, what is one thing you need to let go of in order to grow into the next chapter of your life?

Much love 💕,

Nour Cauveren