As I sit down to write today, it is snowing out. The trees are bowing, heavy with the ice and snow that have accumulated on their branches. Each branch is beautifully flocked in white. The cardinals are busy filling their bellies at our feeders. They appear even more vibrant against their new backdrop. Further out in the yard rests my garden, also covered in the newly fallen snow. I feel like it was just yesterday I was marveling at the bountiful harvest of tomatoes, green beans, and jalapenos. Today, it is barren, cold, and lifeless; and I long for spring. I yearn to till the soil, plant the seeds, and watch in wonder as the delicate, little shoots become sturdy, bountiful plants. At this moment, I remember the words written in chapter three of Ecclesiastes.
There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to give birth, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.
These beautiful words speak about more than just the seasons of the year or the condition of my garden. These words bring wisdom to our journey through the seasons of life.
Summer. The season of bounty, lazy days on the patio, and BBQ feasts with friends and family. You can almost smell the fresh-cut lawn, see the colorful array of flowers blooming in the garden, and feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Almost by reflex, I breathe deep, drawing in the memories and the joy. There are seasons in our lives that are filled with joy as well. The most intense times of joy in my life are those I have shared with my family and friends. I smile as I reminisce on the celebrations of weddings, births, and milestones in the lives of our boys. I cherish the gift of each of these moments. In my heart, I want to live in the season of joy, always. I want endless summer days. However, each of us is old enough to know that this isn’t how the seasons, much less our lives, work.
For those of us in the northern midwest, summer quickly transitions to winter. One day we are basking in the sun, and the next, we are shoveling six inches of snow. Many times, life makes that same “turn on a dime” motion, and we find our lives uprooted. Times of darkness and grief, mourning and weeping, and isolation and confusion can flip our lives upside down. The death of a cherished friend or family member, personal illness, hurt caused by a friend, divorce, or job loss can all cause us to feel abandoned and alone. Personally, I am not a fan of these seasons in my life. I want to put on my stoic face, push through the ugly, place the pain in a box, and get back to joy! However, it clearly states in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for such seasons in our lives. A time to die, a time to break down, a time to weep, a time to rend, and a time to lose. What are we to make of a God who tells us that times such as these are necessary?
This winter, a young man I loved like a son passed away, and I miss him. The loss has been painful, and the tears shed too numerous to count. At times, I struggle to understand the goodness of God’s plan in all of the heartache. Before passing, he said, “Something good will come of this.” Let that rest on your heart, and recognize the deep trust this young man had in God. He trusted in God’s plan and knew this sadness and separation would only be for a season.
That is our challenge, to keep reading, to keep trusting, to keep going. God continues to remind us in this scripture passage that there is also a time to laugh, a time build up, a time to heal, and a time to dance. Joy returns, just like the dawn of a new day or the triumphant arrival of summer, joy returns. And through God’s love and grace, we are better because of the winter. We are more loving, more patient, more kind, more aware of the gifts that bring joy, more conscious of what matters most and what matters least. In a way, we too are allowed to sprout again and bear an abundance of fruit.
Take some time and return to Ecclesiastes. Read the lines slowly, don’t get caught up in the cadence and rhythm of the verses. Now, be honest, what season is your heart experiencing right now? If it’s winter, that’s okay. God has a plan. Let your soul rest, be still, and trust. God has you right where He wants you. Perhaps He has freedom planned for you, healing of your wounds, or a new perspective to give you. Out of the cold, dark winter, God will renew and restore you. God will bring new life. Be patient and trust.
Do you need one more reminder? I sometimes do. The prophet Jeremiah (29:11) says, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”
He’s got you.