Embracing Life’s Seasons: Finding Beauty in Time’s Cycle
Ezekiel 41-42, Hebrews 7, Ecclesiastes 3
Guest Post: Katherine Brey
Some may feel that time is a nemesis. It isn’t! There is a neutrality to time; it has no personal motivation or emotion. With each gliding of the minute hand on a clock, we realize that time is a gift. Time is never more evident than in the passing of the seasons. Much like the distinction of the seasons is apparent, with their beauty and power, our lives are cyclical, too. Interestingly enough, we embrace the nuances, like the stillness of winter, the growth of spring, the warmth of summer, and the falling away of autumn. Yet, with each season of life and time passing, we resist the same occurrences as we live them.
As the author of Ecclesiastes 3 so eloquently points out to the reader, starting in verses 1-8:
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
As seasonal changes happen, most of us adapt; we shift to accommodate what’s to come. The uniqueness of the seasons requires different preparations and adjustments as we transition from one to another. So, what can we glean from this passage? Much like seasons in nature appear, God, in his sovereignty, has given us time. Throughout life’s journey, we will experience the good, the bad, and the ugly within time constraints. Growing up as a city girl in New York, I grew to have a healthy appreciation of weather changes, especially in winter. A robust winter wind sweeping over the Hudson would catch me off guard. More often than not, I would be wearing a light fall jacket and knew I was in trouble. Winter was making its announcement, and resentment would slowly set in as I was ill-prepared. The same can happen to us if we are not careful.
The traits we value in seasonal patterns are the ones we struggle with in life’s seasons. The darkness and harshness of winter necessary to usher the growth and vitality of spring’s blossoms are what we reject in our wintery personal cycle. We may feel uncomfortable when God walks us through a time of stillness and quietness. It may be weird to say, but I found the silence deafening. However, each season builds upon itself, so as much as we thrive in spring and summer, their success is based on the effectiveness of the preceding season. How often have we wrestled with God when he asked us to let go of relationships that have long passed their expiration date? Or a ministry opportunity we have clung to more out of obligation because we don’t want to let go of the known to sojourn into the unknown.
The poetic juxtaposition found in chapter 3 is so poignant. Although written long ago, the contemporary message is still relevant. It speaks to the human heart, the ups and downs of life, and the meaning of it. The sincere revelation is we can’t have one without the other, or it isn’t living. The God who lives outside of time has provided a unit of measure, time, for us to partner with him in everything. Through intentionality and purpose, our heavenly Father has made everything beautiful in its time (v.11). The first portion of verse 11 may be hard to digest, mainly if life is out of sorts presently. I’ve never heard of anyone when asked, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” answer divorced, bankrupt, in prison, or dead. However, the writer mentions difficult circumstances in the first part of the chapter, so we shouldn’t be surprised when we experience some.
Total transparency here, doubt, and the temptation to control are in full swing when the going gets tough. Human inclination is to want to know the why or reasons we are walking through something. As Master Planner, God chooses to withhold for our benefit. Faith and trust step in. When trusting in God, we can see God exchanging something once dead for life, beauty for ashes, and joy for mourning. In God, when it comes to time, nothing is ever wasted. Let’s not lose the forest for the trees here. Why would God make everything beautiful? Ultimately, it points to the answer in the same verse 11-
He has also set eternity in the human heart.
Every pattern or rhythm of life will point to one thing-eternity. The objective of God is eternity with him through his Son, Jesus. Significantly, we shouldn’t forfeit what God is doing in our lives because of difficulty, impatience, or distraction. Whether referencing the temple in Ezekiel 41-42 or the high priest in Hebrews 7, God has foreordained it all. The message is the same as Ecclesiastes 3: within the confines of time, everything God has done and will do will glorify the Son and draw all men unto him.
Globally, we are experiencing a shift in many areas. Even with the solar eclipse this week, many expressed fear and apprehension. After all was said and done, I concluded that everyone worried that something horrible would happen with the solar eclipse walked away with Solomon’s conclusion in Ecclesiastes 3. It was meaningless to worry about an event you can’t control. God has a master plan of which I am a part of. So, whatever season he has entrusted me with, I need to be rooted in God’s word and trust that he will make it beautiful in his time and for his glory.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I pray that I will learn to steward the remaining time I am given. Would you redeem any wasted time, Father? I thank You for what You have made and will make beautiful. Use it all for Your glory and to lift the name of Jesus above all else. May I continue to trust Your plans and purposes. May I be content in whatever season of life I find myself in and rejoice with others in theirs.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflect on the current “season” of your life. How do you see God’s hand at work, and what do you think He is preparing you for in the next season?
- Consider a time when you resisted a change or season God was leading you into. What lessons did you learn about trust and surrender during this time?
- Ecclesiastes 3 talks about a time for everything. Write about a moment you had to let go of something significant to make room for what God had next for you.
- Katherine Brey talks about the beauty of each season and the challenge of embracing life’s cyclical nature. Journal about a season of life you initially struggled with but later saw beauty and purpose in.
- Faith and trust step in when we’re walking through challenging times. Share a recent instance where you had to rely on faith and trust in God’s timing, and how it impacted your relationship with Him.
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