Life is always changing.
Fall is a good reminder that seasons of life change too. Just as the trees change their color and
usher in a new time of wonder and excitement, the changes we encounter are full
of color and diversity. No one knows
what the next chapter of life will look like, and sometimes it’s easy to become
anxious about what the future holds.
As Ecclesiastes
3:1-4, 11a says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose
under 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…
[God] hath made every thing beautiful in his time…”. Ecclesiastes 3 is a fascinating chapter of
the Bible. Solomon goes on to list several more “seasons” in life, such as time
for war, time for peace. Time to scatter
and gather. A time to embrace and a time
to refrain. The list goes on and
on. But it is interesting to note that
he doesn't talk about a time to worry.
To be anxious is to not trust God. Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.” There
is never a time to worry. I should
always give thanks, in every circumstance and every season of life. Certainly, God makes “…all things beautiful
in his time”; so instead of worrying what may lay around the next bend in the
road of life, I can claim my King’s promise that all things work out for my
good and His glory, and that His grace is sufficient (Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor.
12:9).
Seasons of
distress may not sound pleasant, but take heart! We have a never-ending spring of grace and
joy to draw from. When we are weak, He
can be strong. Do not worry about tomorrow,
our Leader is He Who parted the red sea to take His people out of Egypt,
enabled a young David to kill a lion and bear with his two hands (not to
mention a mighty giant!), and sent the mighty floods upon the earth. Is He not capable of leading us through
seasons of change?
