A Time for Everything

By Samantha Rodriguez

“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 (NIV)

Have you ever been in the mood to watch a movie or read a book that makes you cry? Maybe it’s just me, but there are times where I just feel like crying and letting my emotions run their due course. Maybe instead of crying, you’ve felt the need to go on a run to blow off steam, or call up your mom or best friend to talk through a hard day, or dance and jump to express your excitement! As emotional human beings, we were created to experience and express these things. This is what Ecclesiastes is touching on, but it also reminds us of so much more.

Not only do our emotions and experiences take place in time, but seasons of life take place in time as well. For those of us who live in Florida, seasons may seem like a hoax compared to other states where the four seasons actually exist. Nonetheless, the coming and going of seasons is intertwined with the time of the year. The same goes for the cycle of plants and trees—what we often call “the circle of life.” Even throughout history, every empire, dynasty, or nation rises and falls. People build, people tear down, and then people rebuild. Why is this important?

Because time was created by God. It isn’t something that just happens. God stands outside of time, and when He spoke the world into existence, He also created time. It’s seen in the first few words of the creation story, “In the beginning . . .” (Genesis 1:1 NIV). Time started, and God continued to build the world and establish customs for His people around the seasons. He instructed them in times of celebration and in times of mourning.

Time exists to help direct us to our Creator, the time keeper. Time also exists to help us navigate the parts of life God never wanted for us. Because of the fall, there’s death, sorrow, and pain. Thankfully, our Father God is also kind and gracious, so He allows these dark experiences to be deeply interconnected with experiencing Him. In the dark moments, we draw near to God as He draws near to us. We witness His glory firsthand because His glory includes His patience, kindness, and willingness to cry and suffer alongside us. These moments are interwoven with other moments of rejoicing.

At the end of the day (no pun intended), we can’t change or manipulate time. We live in time, and when that feels like a terrible reality to accept, it’s crucial we remember the gift God intended time to be in our lives while on the earth. We fill time with fond memories, intentional relationships, precious moments, and valuable lessons. Time holds so much for us, so may we not view it as an enemy. Instead, let’s ask God to give us wisdom to recognize what season He has us in and how we can best steward the time He gives us!

Pause: Why is it important that God created time and allowed life to exist in cycles of time?

Practice: Think about your life in terms of seasons. Have you ever walked through a season of doubt, suffering, or grief? What about a season of rejoicing, celebration, or good news? Reflect on these questions and write down a list of some seasons or moments that come to mind. Then, write down what you learned about yourself and God through each of them.

Pray: Father God, it blows my mind how You sit outside of time and created it! I’m so grateful to know that in Your abundant power, You’re also full of abundant love. You oversee all things, but You also uniquely see me. I don’t want time to pass me by as if life is just happening to me. I want to live intentionally in every season and moment You bring me to and through. Help me to look at time and life through Your eyes, taking advantage of every moment to walk with You and love others. Amen.