Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:
We've just entered autumn - not my most favourite time of year.
The days are shortening, the leaves are falling and the weather is changing.
It's now a time for dead-heading and pruning in the garden and vibrant colours are fading to rusty brown.
The same goes for our lives, we have various seasons of the soul.
Different seasons come to our lives: times for planting and growing; fruitful times, barren times; times of heated trials; periods of cold and loneliness; of broken dreams and loss.
The reassuring anchor in all of this is to know that the same Lord, who controls the seasons on earth, is in control of our life.
There is a time and a place for everything.
The wonderful miracle is that our Lord can use each and everything for His good purpose:
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Can God make something terrible happening in my life into something beautiful?
I believe He can.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
That's how Joseph, who had been so badly treated by his brothers (thrown in a pit & left for dead, sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, imprisoned for 13 years, forgotten by those he helped) could see, in hindsight, the mighty Hand of God working behind the scenes:
Genesis 50:20 NKJV
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
For Joseph there was a time for trials and betrayal and a time of waiting in prison, then a time for freedom and glorious responsibility.
Using the seasons of the soul for God's glory will bring rich rewards.
Ecclesiastes 3:2-8 NKJV
A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what 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; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; [6] A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; [7] A time to tear, 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.
Father God, help me to see Your Almighty Hand ordaining the seasons of my life. May I use each one for the glory of Jesus.