Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: a reflection

1For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

The Preacher sets out a well-known reflection on the seasons of life: For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. Life has its seasons, its appointed times, each with its own purpose; there is a time for each thing, a rhythm of seasons that make up the whole of life. Not everything belongs to every moment; each has its time.

Notice the truth the Preacher lays out: there is a season and a time for everything. Life is not all one thing; it has its seasons, its varied times, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time for each purpose. There is a rhythm to it, an appointed time for each thing; not everything belongs to every moment, but each has its own season. The seasons of life come and go, each with its purpose; and there is a time for each, appointed under heaven. Life unfolds in its seasons, each with its time.

That truth is worth taking to heart, for we can resist the seasons of life, wanting one season when another has come, rather than trusting God's timing for each. We can want to laugh when it is a time to weep, or to hold on when it is a time to let go, resisting the season we are in and longing for another; but there is a time for everything, a season for each thing, appointed under heaven. Accept the season you are in, whether of weeping or laughing, mourning or dancing, trusting that there is a time for each, and that God appoints the times. Do not resist the seasons of life, wanting one when another has come; accept each season in its time, trusting God's timing, as the Preacher lays out that there is a season for everything and a time for every purpose under heaven; embrace the season you are in, whatever it is, rather than fighting it, trusting that each thing has its appointed time under the God who governs the seasons of life.

Lord, the Preacher sets out a well-known reflection on the seasons of life: for everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. Life has its seasons, its appointed times, each with its own purpose; there is a time for each thing. Not everything belongs to every moment; each has its time. Show me the truth the Preacher lays out: there is a season and a time for everything. Life is not all one thing; it has its seasons, its varied times, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time for each purpose. There is a rhythm to it, an appointed time for each thing. The seasons of life come and go, each with its purpose; and there is a time for each, appointed under heaven. Take that truth to my heart, for I can resist the seasons of life, wanting one season when another has come, rather than trusting your timing for each. I can want to laugh when it is a time to weep, or to hold on when it is a time to let go, resisting the season I am in; but there is a time for everything, appointed under heaven. Help me accept the season I am in, whether of weeping or laughing, mourning or dancing, trusting that there is a time for each, and that you appoint the times. Keep me from resisting the seasons of life, wanting one when another has come; help me accept each season in its time, Lord, trusting your timing. Help me embrace the season I am in, whatever it is, rather than fighting it.