3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
There is so much depth to these Ecclesiastes verses. I really do believe in the old cliche, "everything happens for a reason." I just happen to also believe that we can go a lifetime before we know sometimes what those reasons are. Life does have seasons and I believe these seasons have a purpose decreed by God -- i.e., there is a time and a season to every purpose under heaven.
I'm having a hard time understanding the reasons and the seasons lately. I've been to the funeral home 3 times in one month and witnessed grief at the highest level imaginable in seeing friends bury their 24 year old child. The tears, sobbing, hugs and prayers were palpable that day.
I found this explanation on a web page and I felt it was so "real" in explaining the seasons.
When times are good, that is the season of plenty and there is purpose in that. If you let Him, God will use your plenty for the benefit of you and others. In times like these it can be easy to serve God and thank Him for your good fortune. Conversely, but similarly, there is also purpose during bad times, or in other words during seasons of want. God also uses these times for the ultimate benefit of you and others, even though it may be hard for us to see or understand this while we’re in the midst of it. It’s important that we continue to serve and thank God during these times, knowing that this too shall pass into a new season.
So, regardless of the season of life you find yourself in today, remember that there is a purpose to this time in your life.
With the approach of the holidays, I don't know that I have ever been more "thankful" for my family than I was on Thanksgiving Thursday last week.
