A Season for Everything

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 Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 (ESV)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

            2           a time to be born, and a time to die;

                        a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

            3           a time to kill, and a time to heal;

                        a time to break down, and a time to build up;

            4           a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

                        a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

            5           a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

                        a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

            6           a time to seek, and a time to lose;

                        a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

            7           a time to tear, and a time to sew;

                        a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

            8           a time to love, and a time to hate;

                        a time for war, and a time for peace.

Devotion:

            These words from the writer of Ecclesiastes are very proper for the time we find ourselves in. Our season of illness and fear of illness from the Covid-19 virus has lasted longer and placed a greater burden on us than any of us would have imagined when it first began. We have become weary of the loss of freedom that we have borne during this pandemic. Do we have the courage to move past this season?

            I hope so. I pray and fervently believe that we must move beyond our current state of fear into a season of healing and hope. So let us meditate on these ancient words. Letting their truth and power seep into us to change us into a hopeful and joyous people. A people who believe in the power of their God to change their outlook on life.

            May we learn to choose hope over despair, choose joy over fear, and choose love over anger. We need to ask God for these things. Join with me in this prayer:

            Lord, we ask you for your help to change our mental outlook on life. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Cleanse our hearts of fear and anger. Restore to us the joy of your salvation. Create in us the ability to move beyond our hopelessness into a season of hopeful joy. Glorify your name among us. May we be consumed by the desire to praise and worship you in spite of our circumstances. Gather us together as your people to encourage and bless one another. Amen.

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