“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, 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
Our Christian lives are a series of changing seasons.
Throughout history, people have resisted changes to their everyday lives. For instance, when the railroad system was developed in America, many people vehemently opposed it. Here’s a letter written to President Andrew Jackson on January 31, 1829:
As you may know, Mr. President, ‘railroad’ carriages are pulled at the enormous speed of 15 miles per hour by ‘engines’ which, in addition to endangering life and limb of passengers, roar and snort their way through the countryside, setting fire to crops, scaring the livestock and frightening women and children. The Almighty certainly never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed.
Signed,
Martin Van Buren
Governor of New York
Even Governor Van Buren, a future President of the United States, opposed what now we can say was a very important step in our nation’s transportation development. It seems that with every major change in history came some resistance. While not all change is good, good change is beneficial.
In our lives as Christians, there needs to be a “changing process” every so often. As our verses show, we live through different seasons in our lives. There will be times of growing, sowing, reaping, repenting, building, and repairing. Our Christian lives are a series of different seasons.
Take a moment to think of the season you’ve been in recently. Perhaps you’ve endured a trial and have since come through closer to God. Maybe you’ve experienced blessings and have had much for which to thank God. Or perhaps you’ve encountered a time of backsliding, a falling away from God’s will.
What season are you in right now? If you are facing a difficult season, know that God doesn’t bring seasons of difficulty or stretching and growing into your life for no purpose. There’s always a reason! And as Ecclesiastes explains, your season of difficulty will not last forever. There will be seasons of blessings coming as you remain faithful to Him.
If you’ve experienced a season of blessing recently, take time to thank God! He has blessed you and deserves to be thanked because of it. Just as a season of difficulty will not last forever, so a time of blessing will end. Rather than spending the time of blessing away from God, make sure to stay close to Him so that when difficulties come, you can thank Him just as you did during the blessing season.
Or have you strayed from God recently? God never desires that you would turn away from Him, but He offers you forgiveness and restoration if you turn back to Him. You are never too far gone that God will not forgive you.
Which season of life are you in today? Thank God for His guidance and love no matter the season you face, and remain faithful to Him no matter what’s going on in your life right now. By Dr. Paul Chappell
