To Everything There Is…
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 To Every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which 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 get and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, 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 of war, and a time of peace.
To EVERY thing there is a season.
To EVERY thing there is a purpose.
Time……
Such a precious commodity…..
So taken for granted.
In all of our life there is a pattern….
He gives….
He takes away…..
We have…..
We lose…..
And during that time when we lose….we weep….we mourn….
And we wake up to a new day and begin the cycle all over again.
To EVERY thing there IS a season, and a time to EVERY purpose under the heaven.
EVERY PURPOSE…..
Because everything HAS a purpose. The good things, the bad things. The time of being born, the time of dying, the time of planting, and the time of harvest.
There is a time to kill things in our lives….and there is a time when we need to heal and be allowed to heal.
There is a time when we have to break down walls and strongholds and there is a time when we need to build things up inside up, build up ourselves.
There is a time when we weep pain filled cleansing tears….and there is a time when the memories that once caused us pain can be remembered fondly, can be laughed over.
There is a time when we will mourn…and there is also a time when we shed our proverbial mourning clothes and dance in His presence again.
There is a time to hold on….
There is a time to let go.
To EVERY thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
What we need to decide in ourselves is that every season has a purpose…for us.
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
In other words, He has it all under control.
Every season, Every purpose, He knows.
Every tear, Every laugh, He knows.
Ecclesiastes 3:10-12 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
There are seasons when we feel lost, when we are just plodding through. My Pastor told me during an especially difficult time once that “There are seasons when you just survive.”
But even through those times when we don’t know how we can continue on, He knows.
In the deepest of despair He has a plan; a plan to make everything beautiful….in HIS time.
And He knows how it is all going to turn out for us….He knows the end of our story, even if we don’t.
Knowing that He had everything under control should be cause enough for us to rejoice….
In EVERY thing…..
In EVERY purpose……
IN EVERY SEASON……
Within us should always be that joy….in good times and in bad times….
Because He knows.
Phillipians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and gain I say, Rejoice.
Paul spoke of trials, of thorns, and of joy…
Phillipians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
How did he learn that contentment???
Phillipians 4:8 Finally, brethern, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS.
There it is….
Think on those good things….
The proverbial **Positive Attitude**?
Maybe….
Is that such a bad thing?
When we have our minds on the unholy things of this world, we lose that joy, that nearness, that peace of God, and our hearts are unguarded.
What we need to remember is that even in our present circumstances God has given us everything we need to be victorious, to live above our circumstances, to be triumphant.
Through Him we have to power to do all that He has for us to do.
When was the last time YOU tapped into that power??
When was the last time YOU looked beyond your present circumstances and looked at EVERY thing??
Because when you take the time to look at every thing, you see His hand.
In EVERY season….
In EVERY purpose…..
He knows….
