“The Seasons of life include both GOOD and BAD TIMES” Pt 4 of 5:
- The Seasons of life are beyond my control – 2. They are often confusing – 3. God has a purpose for every season.
4. The Seasons of life include both GOOD and BAD times: Life is full of contrasts. We experience mountains of joy and happiness, but also walk through the valleys of sorrow, and despair. We go through successes and we go through failures. We have winnings and we have losses. In weather there are four seasons, but in your life, there are many different seasons.
Solomon listed 28 different life experiences in Ecclesiastes 3:2-8. Here’s a few from the wisest man that ever lived; “There’s a time to be born and a time to die, a time to laugh and a time to cry, a time to find and a time to lose, a time to speak up and a time to be quiet (we often get these two mixed up).” We need the courage to speak up when we should and have the good sense to be silent when necessary.
Life is a combination of contrasting seasons. All sunshine and no rain make a desert. If you are truly following God with a desire to live as He wants you to live, every experience (season) in life has meaning and purpose in your life. This doesn’t mean you understand the season and some seasons will be disappointing and even painful. But in our walk of faith, we believe God’s ways are better than our ways. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We believe He is our High Tower and can not only see our future, but in navigating our future.
There was a popular song by Ray Stevens years ago called, “Everything is Beautiful in it’s Own Way.” It was a great song, but unfortunately, not everything is beautiful. Any type of disease is not beautiful, war is not beautiful, broken relationships are not beautiful, losing a loved is not beautiful.
Some of you are going through a season right now and it’s not beautiful. It’s ugly. Your finances, health, marriage, relationship with a friend, job, or something else is everything but beautiful. It’s the pits and you may be screaming, “God – why is this happening to me?” Stand firm with an obedient heart, keep your eyes focused upon Christ and know he knows and understands everything you’re going through. He’s even catching your tears. As the songwriter wrote, “I don’t know about tomorrow – BUT I KNOW WHO HOLDS MY HAND!” (Pt 5 Tomorrow: What you sow in one season, you will reap in another season).
Pastor Carnes
