Theme: Seasons
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 The New International Version
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
Devotional:
Is there really a time for *everything?
I'm not sure where I land on this question. Of course, I know what scripture says, "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity...," but there are parts of me that wonder if there really is a time for everything. Everything. That's such a large concept.
Everything means *nothing is left out. Every *thing has a time.
Yes, I am aware that I am speaking in circles but follow me, I promise I am going somewhere with this.
I recently felt very tired while I was at work and wondered (out loud) do I have time to take a nap? I have heard from friends who text and say, "call me." My response is almost automatic, "I don't have time."
I am often overwhelmed by the number of times that I say, "I don't have time." And, mostly, that is true. I work. I have a family. I have friends. I have hobbies. I don't have time, though. It has also been said that we make time for what we want. Sigh. That is true too.
Yet, I want to go somewhere else with this question of time. Not long ago, I was sitting with an acquaintance, and I made mention of my youngest brother's premature and tragic death. In the middle of my talking about it, I was struck by this thought, "how long will I be *allowed to grieve his death?" Is there a time limit? This brings me back to my original question, "is there really time for *everything?" And how much time do we get?
If there is a time to laugh and a time to cry, how much time?
If there is a time to mourn and a time to dance, who -or what - determines the time to do either?
We live in a busy time. We are moving here to there - and quickly. We are rushing time and very rarely have enough of it. And, yet we - and scripture - says there is a time to do it all. Is it?
I want time to take a nap. Can I?
I want time to be sad about a broken relationship. Can I?
I want time to feel disappointed that things didn't work out at my job. Can I?
I want time to experience the ordinary *AND the extraordinary - at the same time.
I want time to let the dishes sit - and not feel bad about it.
Is there time for *all of that? A better question is, can I make time for *all of that?
For me, because I have convinced myself that I don't *have time, I don't *take time to do any of these things. Then I sit. I seethe. I stew. All because I didn't give - or take - time.
Prayer:
God will redeem the time. God will redeem my time. God will restore. For all the ways I have wasted time, I repent. For not giving myself time to feel what I feel, when I feel it, God forgive me.
God will redeem my time. God will restore. I believe; God, help my unbelief.
Reflection Question:
What have you not given yourself time to do? What takes up most of your time? What time do you need God to redeem for you?
What do you need time to do...?
- Cry
- Sulk
- Imagine
- Mature
- Yell
- Scream
- Write
- Quit
