For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, 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
When we are in the middle of a season, it can be hard to think about anything changing or being different no matter what is happening at the time but especially when things seem chaotic or difficult. This year has been a very rough season for me. It has been one thing after another that seems to go wrong and bring pain and hardship. At times it feels as though I am hanging on to the hem of Jesus for dear life. I am grateful for the reminder that this is just a season in my life. If we are not careful, we can listen to and believe the whispers of the enemy. He would have us believe God is allowing us to be crushed because He does not care. Satan and his demons would have us believe we have been forsaken and try to drive us to despair. Our feelings will lie to us and try to make us think He has, but it’s a lie we need to capture and remove, reminding ourselves of the truth. We need to do what Jesus did, fight the lies of the enemy with the truth of the Word of God. I love the truth that Paul gives us in 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
No matter what is going on we can know for sure, God does not leave us or forsake us and we will not be driven to despair because we hold on to the truth, love, hope, and peace we have in Jesus.
Even though life is hard right now, I am grateful because I am growing and learning in it. God is preparing me for something. It is easier to get through when I look back at all the seasons of my life and how good God was at getting me through each and every one. In the seasons of loss, and gathering, in the seasons of building up and tearing down, God was there. God was blessing me and guiding me. This season is no different. God never leaves us or forsakes us(Heb 13:5).
When we look back and remind ourselves of each and every time God has delivered, provided for, and healed us, it helps our faith grow and be like an immovable rock. Stand on the truth, wield it and protect your mind from the lies. Be grateful for how God can use the circumstance you are in now and how it can be used to manifest Jesus in these mortal fleshly bodies we are living in.
Thank you Lord that all of this is working for good. I pray that you would use all that I have gone through to manifest you and your love to all those around me. I trust you, Lord, and I pray that you be with and uplift all my brothers and sisters who are in hard seasons right now. I pray that the joy we have in you would be the strength that helps us to keep holding on and trusting you.
Written by Rebecca Murzin
