Read: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (v. 1)
There is no better, clearer reminder in Scripture than Ecclesiastes 3 of the seasons of our lives—the beginnings and endings, joys and sorrows, or gains and losses we experience on this side of heaven. In verse 2, we are told that there is “a time to be born and a time to die.” Similarly, James 4 reminds us that tomorrow is not promised. The Message paraphrase of James 4:14 goes so far as to highlight the brevity of our lives in the grand scheme of time: “You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.”
If you are reading these words, you’ve probably experienced both joy and hardship through many seasons in life. I hope we can all celebrate the ways God has directed our steps according to his will, allowed us to dance in the beauty of his plan, and carried us through the waters of disappointment and loss when we could not move on our own.
Over the next two weeks, we’ll be focusing on God’s enduring faithfulness through the many different seasons of life. Though we don’t know the length of our days, we have a road map for how to spend them—loving others well (Phil. 2:3-4), living humbly as Jesus did (v. 8), and shining “as lights in the world” (v. 15). We never walk through any season alone, and for this we can be grateful.
As you pray, thank God for his enduring faithfulness.
Joy Petroelje serves as the Advancement Operations Manager for CURE International, a global nonprofit organization. Aside from work, she enjoys spending time with her family, coffee with friends, reading, and traveling local trails on foot.
