Sometimes the only way that I can process situations I may be facing or challenges that arise in life is to write. Getting it out of my head/heart onto paper or a screen is for me, the best way to deal with things that may be in the path of this journey we call life. Recently, as I was doing my morning devotion, I was reading in the writings of Solomon, specifically Ecclesiastes.
Solomon appears to be a bit jaded about life at this point in his kingship. He writes with an apparent disdain for life, a view that is very negative and somewhat depressing if we were to be honest. It is amazing how he goes from writing some amazing proverbs to a critical cynic about almost every area of his journey.
However, as I was reading I began to think about Solomon’s rendition of seasons in Ecclesiastes 3. Allow me to just put a portion of it in this blog post for you to get the context of what I am trying to bring across today.
Ecc 3:1-8
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time †to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.
As Solomon penned these words, no doubt he was looking back over his life and remembering the seasons that he had found himself in. Now I am not here to just discuss seasons but I am here to talk about what do you do when you find yourself in unique seasons of life. We all go through changing times, times that can be difficult to work our way through. I have discovered that there are a few things I can do in the middle of these moments of life. Over the course of the last year, our world has definitely been in a very unique and challenging season. Things have changed and everyone of us have had to adjust our lives to what has been going on. Nevertheless there are some things we must remember during times of change and challenge.
First of all;
Stay Calm in a Changing Season
As things begin to change, and they will, stay calm. You only make matters worse when you begin to freak out in the middle of a changing season. During times of change, it is not the best time to make major life decisions. Calm down, take it to prayer and God will direct you. Many a destiny has been disrupted in ones life when making decisions during times when your footing may be uncertain. Remember in the middle of it all – GOD’S GOT THIS! This leads me to my second observation;
Stay Centered in a Changing Season
Now is not the time to be leaving what you have believed in, moving away from grounding principles that have held you together for years. Paul told his young protege in the gospel “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim 1:12) In times of change in our lives, there is so much distraction that appears along the path, so just trust in God during these moments and lean not on your own understanding but trust HIM! Stay centered in your faith, your trust, your belief system that has carried you this far. Because at the end of the day – He is your fortress, your rock, your shield, your CENTER! Finally we must,
Stay Committed in a Changing Season
During a changing season we must stay committed to God, our family, our community, our friends etc. Don’t leave the harbor in the middle of a storm, it may cause you to experience unknown disasters that are out there in the deep. Stay grounded to what you know and in WHOM you have believed. Commitment is the key to success and when we disregard the things that are important to our foundation, we may find ourselves facing uncertainties that we were never meant to face.
In the middle of all the mess we are currently experiencing in our world, these three foundations will get you through! Stay CALM – God is still in control! Stay CENTERED – God’s plan for your life is perfect so you can focus on His Word and His direction. Stay COMMITTED – Committed people are solid people! I am trusting and praying for each of you that read this and believing God is ordering your steps. We will overcome!
