Seasons of Life


Just as the weather changes and we transition from one season to another, we find there are seasons in our life that begin, flourish, and then come to an end... just to begin a new period in our life. It could be the addition of a new family member or even the loss of a loved one. It could be a brand new job or the loss of one you've had for as long as you can remember. Good health turns to bad; children grow up to be adults; bankruptcy turns to prosperity or vice versa... the list goes on.

Solomon, gifted with an extra measure of wisdom from God, wrote the following of life (and you might remember them sung by the American folk rock group the Byrds in the 1960's)...

For everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what 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 seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, 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 for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

NOTHING ever takes God by surprise. Yes, there is a time for every matter but it doesn't last forever. That can be both a word of encouragement and caution. The thing that you can hold onto through it all is the faithfulness and consistency of God's presence in your life. He will not abandon you regardless of the season or situation you are in.

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