Ecclesiastes 7:9-14: a reflection

9Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this. 11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun. 12For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. 13Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he has made crooked? 14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yes, God has made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything after him.

Among these sayings of wisdom is a counsel for the varying seasons of life: In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one alongside the other. Life brings both good days and hard ones, days of prosperity and days of adversity; and the Preacher counsels a fitting response to each, joy in the good, and reflection in the hard, remembering that God has made both, and set the one alongside the other.

Notice the wisdom of receiving both kinds of days from God's hand. In the day of prosperity, be joyful; do not hold back from gladness when good things come, or spoil them with anxiety about their ending. And in the day of adversity, consider; do not merely endure the hard day, but reflect, learn, seek God in it. Both the good and the hard have their place in God's ordering; he has made the one alongside the other, and both are within his hand.

That steadies us through the changing seasons of life. When good days come, we can receive them with joy, thankful for the gladness God gives, rather than clutching them anxiously or refusing to enjoy them. And when hard days come, we can meet them with thoughtful reflection, seeking what God would teach us, rather than mere despair, knowing that God has made these days too, and set them alongside the good for his purposes. Receive both prosperity and adversity from God's hand. Be joyful in the good days, and reflective in the hard ones, trusting that God has made both, and that both have their place in the life he is shaping. Neither the good nor the hard is outside his hand; take each as it comes, from him.

Lord, your word counsels me to be joyful in the day of prosperity and to consider in the day of adversity, for you have made the one alongside the other. Give me the wisdom to receive both kinds of days from your hand. When good days come, help me receive them with joy, thankful for the gladness you give, rather than clutching them anxiously or refusing to enjoy them. And when hard days come, help me meet them with thoughtful reflection, seeking what you would teach me, rather than mere despair, knowing that you have made these days too. Both the good and the hard have their place in your ordering; you have made the one alongside the other, and both are within your hand. Steady me through the changing seasons of life. Help me be joyful in the good days and reflective in the hard ones, trusting that both have their place in the life you are shaping. Neither is outside your hand; help me take each as it comes, from you.