Third Week of Advent, Day 3

Week 3 Day Three: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (ESV)

One great thing about living in the South is enjoying the seasons of the year. My favorite season is Spring. It brings such promise every year. The warmth of Spring breaks the harshness of Winter. I also enjoy the Fall. It brings much needed relief from the Summer and rest for Creation.

Solomon lists seasons that we enjoy like laughing, dancing, loving and peacekeeping. He also lists seasons that we don’t look forward to like dying, weeping, mourning and losing. But, what would laughter be without the contrast of mourning? What would love be without the contrast of hate? If every day was a “good” day, well, there would be no good days. We would just have days.
The best thing about seasons is that they don’t last forever. Just when we are outfitted and prepared for one season, things change and we prepare for the next. If a single season was continuous, well, we just couldn’t take it.

When we are in a positive season, we should enjoy it. When we are in a negative season, we should find the Lord’s comfort. Regardless of the season, we must remember those enduring words: “This too shall pass.”

What season are you in today? How can you fully embrace what God is giving you in this season?


© Copyright 2009 Allen White

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, Wheaton: Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.