by Calven Celliers
1, 2, 3, 4……. 36, 37, 38, 39 days until Spring.
Anybody who knows me knows that I hate winter (and if you didn’t, you do now). I’m not a fan of the cold, at all, whatsoever! Despite numerous attempts over the years, by various people trying to convince me that it’s easier to get warm than it is to cool down, the freezing temperatures and icy wind that blows across the highveld, overshadows any hope of ever converting me. I spend my days, from the first autumn leaf that falls, counting down to Spring, and then Summer… aaaah the very word brings a smile to my dial, especially after the bitterly cold weather we’re currently suffering.
As with Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring, in our Christian walk, we too experience seasons that are wonderful and seasons that are not so wonderful; in fact, there are times in life that are far from wonderful, they’re awful and we wonder if they’ll ever end. So many verses in scripture come back to the foundational truth that God knows best and wants us to trust Him in all things and at all times. He made the world and governs the universe, and is never phased nor astonished at what is going on in the world at large, nor the troubling circumstances that are happening in the individual lives of His children.
In Ecclesiastes 3, wise king Solomon reminds us that there is a season for everything; we will experience both good and bad in this life.
“1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”
(Ecclesiastes 3: 1 – 8NIV)
Therein lies acknowledgement that we may experience seasons of great abundance or great loss. We can experience great joy or great pain. We have wins, and we have losses. But, the beautiful thing in all of this is that none of these seasons or experiences is ever wasted –
“11 He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11NIV)
There is a time for everything, life is full of contrasts, and God in His mercy always provides His love and His grace. We need to hold onto the blessed truth that the God on the mountain-tops of life is the exact same God who walks with us through the deep ravines. God is always there with His perfect love. We can trust that His timing is always perfect. God can take even the bad things and, in the proper season, turn them around and use them for good in the way He intends.
You may be going through a season right now that is not beautiful. Your finances look ugly. Your health looks ugly. Your marriage or a friendship looks ugly. Your future looks ugly. But God can make something good out of it as you trust Him with the pieces.
No matter what season you’re in; whether it is lack or abundance, remember that God is with you. He loves you and everything you experience is meant to grow you closer to Him and advance His kingdom. Cling tight to Him, whatever your season. There is a time for everything.
“Thank You, Father God, that You know the end from the beginning and that everything under heaven is within Your authority. Thank You, that You are in control of all that is happening in my life and the wider world in general. Times and seasons have been foreordained by You Lord. You even know the number of hairs on our heads and have scheduled each day of our lives. May I trust You through all the circumstances of life. As I seek Your face in prayer and praise, may I learn more and more to pray, ‘Thy will be done.’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
God bless,
Calven
