Seasons

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

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.

I love this passage.  It brings me such hope.  Whenever I feel “stuck” in a season of life I am in, these verses remind me that it is just that…… a season.  I won’t be in it forever.

There are times I have felt like the season of “mourning and weeping” will never end, it feels like the longest of all the seasons, but looking back I see that it has ended and something new has come.

Notice how all the negatives are balanced with a positive.  I don’t like the time of mourning, but I am promised a time of dancing!  I am learning to not focus so much on the fact that I am in the season and instead realize that God balances them all out for my good. I won’t be stuck in one forever.  Sometimes I have to endure the “negative” season to get to the joy of the “positive” one.  I think it makes those times much sweeter.

We sing a song at church that is one of my favorites.  Let it be your prayer for today.  Especially the  Bridge!

The Desert Song
By: Hillsong
Verse 1:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

Verse 2:
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse 3:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it’s way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Verse 4:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow