The concept of seasons has been weighing heavy on my heart the last few days. I was thinking about how all throughout our lives we go through season after season. We face good seasons full of growth and joy, but we also face seasons of heartache and pain. No matter what the season may be that we are facing, it is important to remember that it is just that a season. Seasons come and go, but through it all God is always right there with us.
I love the picture that Ecclesiastes 3 paints for us, within this chapter we are told over and over again that there is a time and place for everything that happens. Before that in Ecclesiastes 1 the chapter starts off with the phrase, "meaningless, meaningless everything is meaningless". This thought confused me as a child. I remember thinking, how can everything be meaningless? There has to be a reason for the things that happen. I now realize that's not what this passage means at all.
I honestly believe that this passage is talking about a life without Christ. See we all have this God-shaped whole in our hearts that can only be filled by a relationship with Christ. Without Christ everything is meaningless, just as chasing after the wind. No matter how fast you run, you will never be able to catch it. I think that was what Solomon was talking about when he pinned those words.
Going back to chapter 3, I think it would be best to read it together -
"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace."
As we walk through these season, it is so important to remember that we are never alone. God is always right there with us and He is for us not against us. As a young girl I remember walking through a hard time and thinking the season was never going to end. When it did finally end and I entered into a new season of life I was so relived to leave that season in the past and walk forward. I know that season you're in feels hopeless and like it will never end, but it will. Be encouraged, this is just one chapter in the greater story of your life.
Your challenge this week is to breath. Breath through this season and remember it will pass, be patient and take heart. You are not alone and you are so very loved!
You have a God-given uniqueness!
~ Alianna C.