Am I Enjoying it?

I'm not sure what kind of season you're in right now, but I want to encourage you today to give your best to it and enjoy it. Sometimes the temptation is that we’ll give our best to the next season. A better season. A married season. A dream job season. A retired season.

When it comes to our seasons, we have a habit of dwelling on past seasons and worrying about future seasons.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 NIV

Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes is giving you permission to enjoy your life today and really live.

If you are in a season of mourning. Really mourn, my friend. Weep. Ball your eyes out. Make sure that you squeeze everything you possibly can from that season because once it’s over, you can’t get it back.

If you are in a season where you’re really struggling with your place at your job. Give your best to that season. Show up and work your tail off. Do your job with integrity. Show up early. How you handle your current season will determine what happens in your next season.

If you’re in a season of disappointment, be honest about it, and give your best while being in a season of disappointment. Because what we don’t want to happen is to look back on the seasons of our life and have regrets.

If you’re a single parent, I wish it was different, and I know it’s hard. But there’s no rule that says tough seasons can’t be enjoyed.

Solomon also wrote this in Ecclesiastes:

So I made up my mind that there’s nothing better for us men and women than to have a good time in whatever we do - that’s our lot.

Ecclesiastes 3:22 (MSG)

I’ve been given a lot, and you’ve been given a lot. Whatever your lot is, invite God to the lot and enjoy it.

Wedding vows mirror the poetic style of Ecclesiastes 3.

For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.

Sometimes we’re in a better season. Sometimes it's worse. Sometimes we’re in a season of surplus. Sometimes we’re in a season trying to make ends meet. Sometimes we get a clean bill of health. Sometimes we get bad news from a physician.

Regardless of the lot we’ve been given, and how we feel about it, the biggest regret any of us could have at the end of our life is looking back at any season of our it and realizing we failed to invite God to be in it.

What would be a shame is if we had a season of life experiencing the finer things of life and didn’t take time in that season to give God glory. And it would also be a shame if we went through the dark times and didn’t take time in that season to let God walk with us.

Prayer

God, regardless of the season I'm in, would you help me to find You in it? Would you give me the strength to enjoy the ups and downs? Whatever the lot is that you give me, help me to be a faithful steward of it.

Let Your Word linger in my thoughts and guide my heart today. Amen.