To Every Thing There is a Season

I’ve been visibly absent from my writing lately. My journal is a bit dusty and the pages are looking a little blank. Perhaps it’s because life has been moving at an exceptionally fast pace this summer (when isn’t it speeding along, for that matter) and I’ve been focused more on that ever growing to-do list then I have been on blogging.

I sat down early this morning for some God time, heaviness hovering like a dark cloud before the day even began. For the first time in awhile, I picked up a pen and I wrote, pouring out my heart over the pages of my journal.

My Daddy is making his way to the oncologist as I scribble on the pages; an emergency appointment that was necessitated after a check of his white blood cells came back in the hundred thousand range. If you haven’t met or experienced the nature of cancer, the news isn’t a good thing.

I opened my Bible to the book of Ecclesiastes, the warmth of the sun filtering through a window that hangs above our family table. The words of Solomon jumped off the page.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
    says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
    Everything is meaningless.”

Sometimes we find hope in the strangest places, and as strange as it seems, that warm sun, coupled with Solomon’s exhortation (which included ‘everything under the sun’ and made me giggle) lifted the heavy cloud that had been hanging over my spirit. The natural part of me doesn’t understand some of life’s troubles, like the uncertainty of my Dad’s future, but one thing I know:

 Apart from God, life is meaningless.

Solomon goes through this list of things he’s tried to find fulfillment in.  Career achievements, materialism, alcohol and selfish pleasures. He concludes that it’s all “meaningless.”

True fulfillment can be found only in God.

I, like Solomon, tried finding fulfillment in a variety of worldly ways, and found them to be empty and meaningless. Then I found Christ.

Life hasn’t been perfect since then. In the past week I’ve said goodbye to two sweet ladies, prayed for friends with health and marriage crisises, and learned that my dads not doing so well. That’s just the short list.

My petition to the Lord today wasn’t meant to shoo away the troubles of this world.  They are going to come. What truly matters is that we don’t face them alone. Salvation isn’t just about securing your place in eternity. It’s about experiencing life’s troubles with confidence because you walk with the Lord.

God knows exactly how I feel, and exactly what I need, when I need it.  He knows there will be seasons of rejoicing, and seasons of tears. That’s why Solomon said:

To every thing there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.

Let not your heart be troubled, God whispered as I read. There is a time for everything, and as I sought the Lord, I found strength, and even joy. While He didn’t erase the challenges that will ultimately come, He heard my cry.  The spirit within me can’t help but rejoice, knowing that I have God’s companionship, favor, and understanding to see me through.

The to-do list that’s had me stressed is looking a little less important after my talk time with God. After all, there are more meaningful things to do in life. We have 4 great kids, a son.in.love we adore, and a grandson who will make his appearance in just a few short months. I’ve known God long enough (and well enough) to know that every test brings a testimony, and that an open hand can both give and receive Gods bounty. This is my season for joy; for sowing seeds of love in our kids and in others; and for trusting God to see me through the hard times.