Everything Has Its Time

1) To everything there is a season,
     A time for every purpose under heaven:

 2) 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.

              Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

But how do we know when it is “time” for each of these? How do we determine the “season” that is right—to act or not to act, to do the first course of action or the opposite? The answer is that we don’t know. By our own knowledge, by our own judgments, by our own opinions, by our own instincts, by our own feelings—we don’t know. It is only through communication with God in His Word and through prayer that we can find the answers we need.

Self-reliance leads us into actions with consequences that can be devastating. “I didn’t see that one coming” is a familiar phrase and one that is often true, because we don’t have the sight of God. The corner, the turn, the distance are not visible to us. “God is my co-pilot” used to be a bumper sticker on vehicles. But God must be the pilot, and we can’t be “back-seat drivers.”

In a world of uncertainty, untruth, immorality, and sin, isn’t it time to be still and listen to God for the answers? His direction is available any time we ask for it—if we just take the time to seek His wisdom, His insight, and His sight to guide us in our thoughts, in our decisions, and in our actions. That time is now.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 08/02/15) teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word