times. and seasons.

God has been calling these verses from Ecclesiastes 3 to mind the past few weeks.

"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."

It's encouraging to hear God remind me that He is a God of all times and seasons. Every detail within my current season, every shifting time, every nuance is perfectly planned. I must choose to follow Him and walk in His will. But I am continually held up by His soveriegnty. When I read this scripture, I hear God say "I am there in the time you mourn, I am there in the time you dance, I am there...". I don't feel His nearness. I want to, but I don't have to. If He says He is, that is comfort enough.

He is so good.