“While the earth remains seedtime and harvest, cold, heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” – Genesis 8:22
God has enacted certain eternal principles regarding time. King Solomon was the wisest man of all in Biblical times. He observed these precepts in his description of the cycles of life in Ecclesiastes 3. 1-6.
“There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.“
“A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plants and a time to uproot what is planted.“
“A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to read 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 throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.”
“A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.”
“A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.”
“A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”
Timing is important to fully experience God’s peace throughout the many storms of life, the man or woman of God must learn to discern, accept, and appreciate the perfect timing of God. God accomplishes His will in each individual’s life in their perfect time. Learning to adapt to God’s timing is essential to avoid feelings of despair and outright rebellion. Submitting to God’s perfect timing is also an effective remedy for those who tend to “help” God hurry something along as well as those who all too often move ahead of God’s guidance in the zeal.
The Four Seasons
Every person experiences four different seasons. Each season presents its own set of benefits and challenges. Our ability to determine which season we are in at all times requires an acute sharpness of spirit. Sharpness of spirit is a worthy goal to strive for.
Winter is marked as a long and dreary season. It can become time for inner growth in us as well as plants and trees.
This time of year represents a time of introspection and examine of our hearts and motives. A time to allow God to make changes in us, strengthening and maturing us.
Spring represents a time of joy and glory after dormancy and hardships. It’s a time of pruning, not only in nature but us as well. It’s a time when God can shape and mold us.
Summer is marked by extreme dryness and heat. A time when everything needs more water than usual to sustain strength and life. Our spirits need more spiritual food to stay replenished. Are believers it’s a season to become stronger. As we may struggle and sometimes go through permanent stages.
Fall is marked as a time of harvesting. A time of pruning in preparation for winter. Leaves fall from trees as a sign of transition. For the believer, it’s a time to bear fruits. More correction and shaping can come from God which is required to prepare us for the late ng winter season.
Allow the season that you might be in right now to run its full course. God is a good God and it’s always His intention to bless you despite the circumstances you may be facing. Hard times bring forth good character if you allow God to do His work in you. He had a perfect will for your life.
Do not attempt to change the season you are in. Just as the day is balanced out by th night the seasons that you must walk through are designed by God to keep your life balanced.
Paul’s understanding of these precepts are evident in his letter to the Phillipian church when he declared,
“Not that I speak because of lack for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. I know how to be humbled, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me” – Philippians 4:11-13.
If our source of power is not Christ, the seasons of our lives can and will be unbearable. Don’t carry your own burdens. They are too heavy. Hand them over to the Lord. We must learn to trust in God’s promises and Jesus’s power to give us strength. By submitting ourselves to God we can trust Him to bring us through every trial and circumstance and to exalt us in due time.
From Pity to Praise 