A Time for Everything
For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
A few days ago a teammate of mine had our team participate in an activity called Lectio Divina. (Lectio Divina is a practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s Word.) We sat down, closed our eyes, and listened as she read the passage above three times aloud.
The first time we listened for anything that might stand out to us.
A time for this, a time for that. A season for everything. Nothing lasts.
The second time we did our best to let go of what caught our attention at first and listen with fresh ears.
Everything is temporary, everything is fleeting. Why, Lord, does joy have to be equally matched with grief?
The third time we listened with the intent of writing a letter to ourselves from the perspective of the Lord afterwards based on what He wanted to speak to us through His Word. My thoughts throughout this activity had thus far been from a decidedly human perspective and I found myself feeling discouraged and overcome with frustration. I didn’t like the thoughts that consumed my mind and realized that even though I was listening to scripture, I had failed to invite the Lord into this experience. I began asking, “Father, what do you want to speak to me through this passage? What are You saying?”. I did my best to quiet my own thoughts and began to listen to the whispering voice of my savior.
There is a season for everything, my dear. A time for everything. Everything is temporary. Except for me. Except my love for you. My character, my promises, my faithfulness… they are all enduring. I am the everlasting God and I am always fighting for you. I am always on your side. Your season, my season with you, is always. It is the furthest thing from temporary.
As I continued listening, these are the words He spoke to me:
It is your time, Jolee.
I am healing you.
I am mending you.
Be happy.
Enjoy the fruit of MY labor.
You cannot see all that I am doing. You cannot possibly understand what I am doing. Or what I have done. I have only good for you.
Be joyful. Trust me.
Your season of waiting has been long and you have borne it with strength and grace. I am more proud of you than you could ever know.
My warrior girl.
It is your time.
I am walking with you. Do you know that?
It is your time to dream. To chase your dreams. To invite me into your dreams.
I will walk beside you in all your seasons.
Your season of hardship has been long and you have kept your eyes on me in the midst of trials. You have chosen over and over again to praise me. In joy and in mourning, in celebration and in waiting, in the want and in the harvest. Thank you for choosing steadfastness. Thank you for loving me so.
I love you infinitely more.
