In its time

As i’m writing this i have just had a look at my clock to see what time it is.

And yet, i’m not sure what time it is. That’s what i want to figure out with this blogpost.

In Ecclesiastes 3 it talks about time. God says there’s a time for everything.

EVERYTHING.

That’s freedom. For most of the time i think i’m behind on my schedule.

More often than not i feel like i’m not having enough time to do all the things i need to do.

And here, right now, God is telling me there’s time for everything.

i guess it all is important, then. (i mean, why would there be time for everything if only half of that everything needs to be done?)

But what is everything? And how can it be there is a time for everything?

What time is it now?

First i’d like to quote Ecclesiastes 3:

A Time for Everything

There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—

A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear 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 throw away stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to keep silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

i always felt like this was a Scripture i did not understand. (And most likely i still do not understand this Scripture completely)

Was it supposed to be reassuring that there was a time for everything?

i’m not sure how it can be comforting to know there’s a time appointed for hate or mourning or war.

It may be just me (although i doubt that) but i would not mind if there’d be no time for these things.

They are painful and  pretty damaging. Why would there be a time for such things?

(The Word gives us an answer as to why there is hurt and pain and death in this life. It all began in Genesis with the fall into sin. Not obeying God’s Word and falling for the lies and temptations of the Devil opened the door to all evil in this world.

Still, there’s more. God’s Word does not only speak of our sins and our faults and all the evil in the world. It also speaks of Jesus’ death and resurrection which make it possible for us to experience forgiveness for our sins and to live in freedom.

Okay, i’m not going to write about that for now. i’d like to go back to Ecclesiastes. i just felt this writing would not be complete without mentioning a tiny bit about the Gospel. But i’m fully aware there’s much more to say than i choose to do now.)

To me it’s not the question as to why there’s hurt and pain and evil in this world that struck me. But it was the concept of God allowing us time to deal with those things, that really spoke to me.

God does not ask of us to just sweep things that are uncomfortable under a rag. No. He sets apart a specific time for those things, whatever they may be.

That means that if you are suffering, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, financially, … Whatever area you may be hurting in, God says that there will be time – just enough time – to deal with those things. AND that when the time is right, He will bring it to pass as well.

So in my personal situation i feel like it means that there was a time i was supposed to experience difficult situations that i did not understand. But that maybe the time is now for me to really deal with the emotions that go with those difficult situations. And that one day, when i have taken the time to deal with all this, i will experience the joy that comes in the morning.

If i work together with the Lord and allow Him to tell me what time it is and how i can live my life according to His will and plan for my life – then i will be able to feel safe, no matter what is going on in my life.

i’m not there yet. i stumble, i fall. You know, i’m only human.

But i am willing to try and listen to the Lord and to accept His guidance when He tells me it is time to keep silent, to laugh, to search, to embrace, … But also when He is asking me to speak up, to mourn, to weep and to give things up as lost.

i won’t say it’s easy.

But if it’s according to His plan, i’ll trust Him to make it worthwhile.

And i find comfort knowing that the Lord, Who is in me,

is greater than the one who is in the world!!! (1 John 4:4)