Unique Times

It can be easy for us to become impatient and want everything now! As we face problems, we can wonder why God isn’t answering our prayers in ways we expected. As we work toward goals, the results sometimes can seem to take forever.

But our attitudes can change when we understand the concept of “appointed time.”

To help us understand this principle, the Bible gives us a series of contrasting events and tells us there is “a time” for each event. Yes, there is a time to give birth and die. A time to start and stop. To begin and end. To move forward and stay in place. Expand and cut back. Plant and uproot. Tear down and build up. Weep and laugh. Mourn and dance. Throw stones and gather stones. Search and give up as lost. Keep and throw away. Tear apart and sew together. Be silent and speak.

God gives us these contrasts so we can learn the importance of timing and understand that events are designed for specific moments. Farmers, in fact, base their lives on these patterns. They must understand every season—when to plant, when to weed and fertilize, when to harvest. Even after bad years, they must keep sowing seeds and staying faithful.

It’s important for all of us to look at life from the perspective of “seasons.” We must be sensitive to God’s timing. We need to realize the significance of being faithful at each stage in our lives, always trusting God, knowing that He has a plan for each of us and that He knows the “appointed times” that are right for each person and event.

Today, ask God to give you His perspective on your life. Learn to trust Him. Seek to be sensitive to His timing. Be ready to act at the right time, according to His perfect timetable.