Key Texts: Genesis 8: 22; Ecclesiastes 3: 1 – 14
Additional Texts: Psalm 90: 12; John 4: 9; Jeremiah 29: 11
Spring is here! I’m not sure if like me you’ve welcomed the new season with exuberance; having lived in the tropics, longer, lighter, warmer days are always welcomed! Each year, as the flowers begin to bloom and nature reflects the hope of more pleasant weather, it is often a prompt to consider the symbolism of time for us. As seasons change according to God’s ordained plan, so do our lives. We are constantly compelled to evolve, bid farewell, and welcome new seasons in our transient lives. I pray that if you’re in a challenging season, you’ll remember that there is hope for you to transition to other seasons of joy, and if you’re in a season of joy, that you’ll remain balanced and avoid being arrogant – life involves both. I pray that regardless of your season, this entry will bless you in some way.
Our key text from Ecclesiastes is a popular one, and having contents of its nature, it is also familiar to anyone with some experience of the different seasons of life, even if there is unawareness that this features in the Bible. Indeed, even children are capable of understanding that seasons may not be permanent. As a child, I frequently heard and understood my mother’s prayers for her children to ‘pass the worst’. Through her faith, I understood that God was able to help us to be do well despite the loss of our father. Thankfully, nowadays, she thanks God for His continued support for her family, helping us to ‘pass the worst’ to have careers and independence. Throughout our earthly journeys, we will be required to adjust to various seasons. Some transitions between seasons are beyond our control: physical maturity and death (of people, relationships, seasons and the like) are unavoidable, and we are compelled to adjust to life without them. In other instances, seasons change as a result of others’ decisions or our own choices. Regardless, change is a reality, and depending on whether it is positive or immensely painful or challenging, it has the potential to alter our emotions, influence our perception and future experiences, and change the course of our lives.
Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes cautions us about different seasons of life, beginning with the two which are most likely to be unavoidable: birth and death. It continues afterwards to list other seasons such as demolishing and rebuilding, sowing and reaping, loving and hating, keeping or discarding, and being silent or speaking among others. The mere presence of these detailed contrasts indicate the need to be discerning to determine our personal seasons and how we may best respond. It is natural to desire that difficult seasons end and the exciting ones perpetuate, but since this is not our reality, we must rather prepare ourselves to face the complex and transient nature of our lives.
To support us in these tensions, the Word does offer some pertinent advice for managing the seasons we encounter.
1. Firstly, we must accept our inability to control all circumstances; God is sovereign over nature and the course of our lives. This does not negate our need for self-regulation and godly wisdom as we proceed, but it could remove the pressure of overwhelming stress or worry when we lack clarity about our future. Since God reminds us that there will always be times of change, one of our most helpful decisions is to entrust our lives to Him, allowing Him to guide us without our resistance. Trust Him with your life and heart as navigating the variety of seasons of life in itself is difficult: with Him as a guide, direction and wisdom will become apparent through the work of the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 3: 5 – 6; Psalm 32: 8; Psalm 119: 105; Psalm 37: 23 – 24; James 1: 5 – 8). Additionally, God can be trusted to steer us through life, as He only has good thoughts about us, coming from His eternally good mind. He has no intention to harm us, and wants above all for us to enjoy eternity with Him, so it is natural that He will direct us to most effectively occupy our time on this side of eternity, and help us to transition to our eternal state. We will not live forever on this side of eternity unless we are caught up to meet Him in the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4: 13 – 18), but will spend eternity with Him if our lives are submitted to Him. In between these two points, who could be our most reliable guide but the One who knows the end from the beginning, in contrast to our limited knowledge? As stated in Ecclesiastes 3: 11, though we have eternity and hope set in our hearts, we still need Him to reveal His will to us.
2. Another way in which we might face the different seasons of our lives, is by focusing on our priorities/purpose. In last week’s entry we considered lessons to be learnt from Jesus’ flint-faced fixation on His purpose. He encourages us in a similar way in John 9: 1-5 to be mindful of the need to work whilst it’s day (possible), as the night (dark times) will come when such work for the Kingdom will not be possible. As the disciples questioned whether it was the blind man or his parents who sinned, Jesus seized the opportunity to teach them that it was to display God’s glory; His purpose was clear and guided His response in all situations. Though we may sometimes lack full clarity or only have some revelation of our purpose (He does sometimes reveal it to us incrementally), we know our ultimate purpose is to glorify God. As mentioned last week, we should use this knowledge to filter all decisions, to enable us to maintain our focus in different seasons.
3. Finally, (without meaning to be morbid), we should manage the transience of life by acknowledging that we have limited time and as Jesus mentioned in John 8, we must seize opportunities whilst they exist as there is a window for them which will eventually close. What would you do today if you knew it was very close to your last? Which attitude would you alter? Which assignment would you stop procrastinating about? Our age, experiences and plans for the future may give us a false sense of security, promoting confidence in the allusion that things will always go as planned. We plan, but God is the ultimate planner (Proverbs 16: 9). In Daniel 2: 20-22, we are reminded of God’s power to change times and seasons. We may be in different circumstances within a few hours. In our world that is filled with tension, refugees from war-torn countries and strife amongst leaders, one cannot help but wonder when it will end. I have met many people whose lives took dramatic twists, compelling them to pivot suddenly. The caution to number our days is not only for the elderly; it is for everyone. It is relevant for our daily choices in matters such as our diet and attention to our health, (I say this with some guilt after scoffing chocolate biscuits today!), our relations with others and most importantly, our divine mandate – the charge to use the gifts God gave us to build His Kingdom. Aside from the fact that our choices may hinder us from fulfilling our calling in the future, our circumstances may also change for better (for example with added work or family commitments), competing for our time to focus. I will take every opportunity to encourage you to prioritise what you know God has called you to do, whether in serving your family or in more noticeable (God-ordained) gifts. Creation awaits you being who you are called to be with God’s help (Romans 8: 19) – perhaps there is a gift in you and it is only through you that some people be delivered. Yes you! God created us uniquely and discarded each mould – though there may be others in your field or area(s) of gifting, there is something that you bring that gets the job done in a more effective way with God’s help. Yes you! While we are on the subject of the transience of life, let me reassure you as I have done before that when God has called you, as you learn to fix your focus and number your days, there is no need or interest in competition. Focus. Seek to live in peace with competitors and pray for them, but don’t get drawn into small battles or small talk, ultimately designed to distract you from your calling. Competition is a compliment – it reveals how effectively God is using you to stir hearts, even in those who miss the mark to celebrate you and oppose you instead! God is for you (the version of you He called you to be). Time is your greatest commodity, and the more effectively it is managed, the more you will please God. I ceased procrastinating about writing when I realised how urgently God wanted me to be serious about this writing journey and instead of waiting for ideal circumstances, I now work regardless of the conditions. You can do the same regarding your goals and calling, and He will give you beauty for the ashes that fall as you seek to honour Him. (More about that next week)!
I’m not sure which season you are in; some are more apparent than others. Regardless, I encourage you to seek God, find a Bible concordance or use the internet to research for a Word for your current season season (every topic fathomable is linked to it in some way!), previous seasons which still present you with some residue, and future seasons that you anticipate (in the short/medium/long term). If praying is a struggle in your current season, I have been there too in overwhelming circumstances, and can assure you that whether all you manage is a breath prayer, a minute or five, He hears. Try talking to Him today.
Heartfelt Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your consistent availability to me. I appreciate Your Word that life is transient and I sometimes struggle to cope with some of the seasons it throws me. Please grant me the grace to overcome the fear, anxiety and temptation to handle these seasons in my own strength. Help me to remember Your faithfulness and fully rely on You. Thank You for the good seasons I have already experienced and will experience in the future, and for Your presence in the challenging ones. Please continue to be near me. I ask these mercies in Your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
