Peace Is Timeless

Trust God at all times.

I have little hope for a future brought about only or primarily by human endeavors and initiatives. I have great hope for a future brought about by a God who pulls us forward by surprises and spurts, ambushing us with so-beautifuls and blessing the best of our worst.

Leonard Sweet

I received word that someone I love dearly is facing yet another catastrophic event in her life. She doesn’t need this, I think to myself. Already, she’s facing down her own father’s terminal illness; a daughter’s looming divorce, and the possibility of losing her job within the next few months. As a single mom, she’s barely making ends meet as it is but if she loses her position, well, I don’t want to think about how much harder it will be than it already is. Sadness. There’s a steady stream of ill tidings and sadness is surrounding my dear friend and I’m thinking about her all the time.

Time Is In God’s Hands

Utter and complete sadness. For my friend’s plight and for the world at large. That’s been the emotional flavor of the day lately. At times likes these, I have my moments when I consider the hardships my loved ones are enduring and it feels like too much. One difficulty piled on top of another. Too much to handle one at a time, let alone all at the same time. In my grimmest moments, I tell the Lord that this would be a great day for Him to come back for us. And I mean it with all my heart. It’s time, Lord. It’s time!

I know my friend feels the burdens are heavier now than at any other time in her life. She’s told me so. During our many discussions about how life’s challenges seem to hit all at once, we also agreed that God seems to let it rip for a season and then we get a season of reprieve. I think my friend is right. Because God knows our weak frame, He does give us time to rest, regroup, and recharge. Then, undoubtedly, more trials come knocking and we’re forced to go into heavy-duty trust mode again as we work through the hardships. One step forward, two steps back. Making a little progress one day at a time. Time after time.

Everything Has Its Season

Rather than viewing life as either difficult or easy…I’d much rather look at the seasons of life as just that, seasons. Small pockets of twenty-four-hour segments where God is developing us into what He wants us to be. Why these twenty-four-hour-segments? God knows we can only handle life one day at a time. Thus, He sets forth life in day-by-day allotments allowing for eight hours of sleep at night. When I face my hardships one day at a time…I know I can (with God’s enabling grace) handle them. My friend concurs. No matter what tomorrow holds, God has promised to provide for our every need. Today, it’s all the time we’ve got. It’s all the time we’ll ever need.

In Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, we read that there is a time for everything under the sun. For some reason, this whole passage brings me great comfort. As I reflect upon the meaning here, I see a pattern and rhythm forming. Seasons…they flow into and out of one another. When you look at life, you see how true this is and how every living person must cope with its implications.

At All Times God Rules

We can either go with the flow or go kicking and screaming against the tide we’re mired in today. Whether or not God has us planting or uprooting, tearing down or building up, mourning or dancing, searching or giving up, speaking or being silent, embracing or refraining, God alone rules this moment, this time, all time, for all time.

God Is Faithful Time After Time

What we resist and resent most today can sometimes be transformed into the loveliest of surprises tomorrow. We have to remember that the end of the story isn’t simply surviving today’s battle. It’s often how the writer of Ecclesiastes describes what God does when we least expect it, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Don’t you love it? God Himself putting His healing hand on what hurts us most…transforming them into something beautiful. If we’re paying attention, we’ll find Him faithful time and time again.