Change of Seasons
A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6 A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet 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 3:1-8)
In our area, within the last week, we went from single digit temperatures and 3-4 ft of snow to 40 degree weather and rain. We are able to see a bit of grass in some areas of our yard while other areas still have quite a bit of snow. Even though we are still in the winter season and in an area where we get cold weather, the weather can change quickly so you must be prepared for the different weather patterns.
Seasons change, and with that a season can have different weather within the same season and then change back again. As we see in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 there are many different seasons we can experience because there is a season for everything.
Sometimes we go through some pretty rough seasons in our life and we may think that is the way it will be forever, or at least it seems that way, but it won’t be. Seasons come to an end and new ones begin. Sometimes though, while you are in a rough season where things seem to be scary and chaotic around you, this may cause you fear and uncertainty and set you off balance. Because of the torrential winds of the season, you may not see things clearly and may not even recognize the new season coming into play. But the best thing we can do is to cling to the Lord and seek His guidance and wait out the stormy season. Seasons come and seasons go, but God always remains the same. He never changes and is always looking out for you.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us “there is nothing new under the sun”. Everything we go through has happened before in life. Verses 14-15 states the following:
14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. 15 What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.
So we see that what we are going through has happened in the past and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes things happen over and over again. We ourselves have just never been through it before so it’s just new to us. When we seek God for guidance through the rough season, he will lead us to His Word where we can find our answers along with comfort and hope.
Maybe you feel like you are in the same season that never ends and things never seem to change. Maybe you’ve had a difficult past and you feel like it never leaves you. What was in the past does not have to be what is now unless we continue down the same path to keep us there. God’s mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:22-23) and He waits for us to come to Him wanting that change so we can be brought into a new and better season. You must not give up.
If you are ready for a change, take a moment and let God know this and allow Him to renew your mind (Romans 12:2) so change can come. Be determined to wait upon the Lord for help. He knows where you’re at and will meet you there. Do not stop praying for that change. Do not stop praying for the endurance to make it through your rough season. God will answer your prayer in His time and in His way. You just have to be patient and steadfast in prayer
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.(Isaiah 40:31)