Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.

CONTEXT

We spent all last week looking at the futility of life as Solomon shared the harsh realities of his experience. As we continue reading Ecclesiastes, let’s keep the conclusion of the book in mind: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Bible Reading

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

– Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Devotion

Many people spend their lives either looking forward to the future or dreading it. In this list, we see many contrasts in the basic rhythms of life. We all have times of happiness, times of sorrow, times of toil and perseverance, and times of rest. The truth that underlies all of these statements is that God is in control: He’s the author of life, He directs the seasons, He establishes kingdoms and destroys powers, and everything that occurs happens in His time. Through every event and season of life you can enjoy peace because God is in control.

The Big Question

Are you constantly restless, impatiently anticipating an adventure or dreading some overwhelming event on the horizon? Knowing God’s peace doesn’t mean that you’ll always feel happy or that you’ll never experience trouble. What it does mean is that, through the emotional highs and lows, you have hope. You know that God directs the course of all things, including your life. What are your concerns for the near future? How can knowing about God’s control of everything give you peace through every season?

Conclude your time in prayer and silence reflecting on what you have learned.