In Its Own Time

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 ¹There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: ²A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, ³a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, ⁴a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, ⁵a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, ⁶a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, ⁷a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, ⁸a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. ⁹What does the worker gain from his toil? ¹⁰I have seen the burden God has laid on men. ¹¹He has made everything beautiful in its time.

I’ve been reading a great study on the scripture above. I’ve always loved the verses so this in-depth study has been enjoyable as well as insightful. People, including myself, tend to get antsy when the ‘season’ of life in which they find themselves isn’t one they particularly enjoy.

For instance, yesterday I was out shopping with my cousin, Cheryl. Being curly headed lasses, we were not excited about the drizzly weather making giant bird nests of our hair. More than one complaint was uttered about the temperature, too. It wasn’t cool enough to suit us, as opposed to the complaints of the cold weather we experienced last week or so. We are in a season where the Lord is healing our drought stricken land with precious rain and all we considered was our stinking hair. What an ungrateful pair we were. People complain when it’s hot and complain when it’s cold. Wet or dry matters not, someone will complain about it.

The referenced verses today remind us there is a time and place for everything under the sun; all things come and go in the appointed time, its season. The same drizzly rain sounded very pleasant as I lay in bed in the wee hours appreciating it. What wishy-washy people we are!

From a strictly human point of view, as men strive to find meaning in the things of the world, the contrasts and cycles of life that men endure are frustrating. But Solomon realizes that there is more than this world, and a deeper wisdom than human wisdom. When, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Solomon stepped outside the human realm and reflected on the big picture, he realized that "[God] has made everything beautiful in its time" (vs. 11). The "meaninglessness" of life from the human point of view becomes "beauty" when God's plans and purposes are considered.

Oh Lord, may we have the discernment to see life from Your point of view, and may we have the wisdom to recognize the beauty of Your plans and purposes as You work through our lives.