"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
The most wonderful thing about God and His word is the fact that verses that you may not have read for years are suddenly brought to the hearts' surface at just the right time, providing comfort, peace and clarity of mind and heart. Such is the story with this these verses. I'm one of those people who loves words. Like really loves words! And when I read something like Ecclesiastes, my soul is stirred. This isn't the first time this verse has been used as an entry point to one of my posts, but there's nothing more comforting than reading this, no matter what season of life you may be in. It reminds you that, as difficult as a "time" may seem, a new time will soon follow. Things come to pass, not to stay. And when your heart feels lonely and wonders why letting go can be so hard, you are reminded that God is in control and has taken care of all the details. When your heart feels rejected, you are reminded that one thing remains: God's love never fails. It never abandons, though we may feel estranged. It is stronger than any mountain we may face and deeper than any ocean we may wade. It reminds us that fear has no place in our hearts because God is on our side. It builds faith and strengthens the soul. It allows us to love the ones who hurt us and trust God to bring the healing. But more than anything, it allows us to find joy in the midst of any and every season. True joy. The kind that can't be manufactured by emotion or bought at a store. The kind that isn't dependent upon perfect circumstances. The kind that is brought about by the knowledge that God's love is never out of reach. Though all else may fail, this one thing remains.
