by Philip Cook (in Costa Calida Chronicle, October 2024)
As we move from summer into autumn, I am reminded about seasons and how our lives are dominated by them.
As the cooler weather approaches and the days get shorter, we put away our summer clothes and back go on the long trousers for the men and warmer clothes for the ladies.
In spring we start the spring cleaning; rushing around the house, clearing away the cobwebs and getting it ready for the longer, lighter days, which are once again approaching.
This has gone on to remind me that there are also very personal seasons in our lives and that some of these seasons can be very painful. Loss of a loved one, loss of one’s health, loss of a job or finances, to just name a few, can bring us all down to our knees and cry out “where are you, God, if you are there speak with me, help me!”.
Ecclesiastes 3 says:
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.
We are all in seasons and God is in charge of them all. Please don’t give up today, but cry out afresh with faith that God will hear you, because He loves you!