There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 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 refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent 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 (NIV)
Ever gone kicking and screaming over what God is doing in your life? Sadly, I have, more often that I care to admit. Even though I know that I know that I know God rules all things sweetly and justly, and all things are beautiful in their time, and in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose yet still I “kick against the goads”, struggling against God’s best for my life – go figure. When will I ever learn? When unwanted change occurs – whatever that change may be – it can cause a troubled spirit and anxiety to well up within us. We have what we don’t want or we want what we don’t have. What do we do with these distressing emotions? How do we deal with the ups and downs of difficult changes in our lives? We fix our eyes on Him, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. He has a plan and we want to walk in it. While His will may appear to be anything but good and pleasing and perfect nonetheless that is exactly what it is.
God is always working from the inside out. He is all about heart change ever conforming us into the image of His Son so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And change is never really easy, Amen? Even change that is welcome. Change means things will be different which means there must be adjustments. Differing schedules, differing demands - it is not status quo anymore; it is a new normal. Every single change will bring gains and losses of something into our lives – gains we are to rejoice in and losses we must lament. Losses are losses and they can be painful and we must be honest with our struggles or we will eventually erupt (which is not a pretty sight!). We are to keep our eyes fixed on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, praying for His sufficiency and strength, not dwelling on the “why” of it all, rather on the “Who”. Knowing He is leading and guiding us with His eye fixed upon us for our good and His glory.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)