TIMES AND SEASONS

In the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament of the Bible, chapter 3 commences with eight verses which were set to music in the 1960's by American folk singer / songwriter, Pete Seeger, under the title "Turn, Turn, Turn" (to Everything There Is A Season). The song was recorded by a number of artists, including a huge hit version by The Byrds in 1965. The popular Australian group, The Seekers also recorded this song on their "Come The Day" album.
The verses from the Bible read: To everything, there is a season
                                               A time for every purpose 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;
                                               A time to embrace,
                                               And a time to refrain from embracing;
                                               A time to gain,
                                               And a time to lose;
                                               A time to keep,
                                               And a time to throw 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 of war,
                                               And a time of peace.

As King Solomon, who wrote these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote, each life is made up of different times and seasons. As we advance in years, we can reflect back over our lives, and, for many, identify distinct times and seasons - times of growth, times of stagnation; seasons of prosperity, seasons of lack; times of great joy, those of deep sorrow; seasons of good health, times of sickness, sometimes short-lived, for some over extended periods of time.There may be seasons of a focus on a particular job or career. Another season of life may see a paradigm shift in the direction of a career or job type. 
Friendships and acquaintances may change dramatically, because of different seasons of geographical location.  Family structures may, for some, change in unexpected ways because of marital breakdown or blending of families through, for example, the situation of divorce and remarriage.
At the beginning of creation, our Creator God established times and seasons for the earth on which we live. Genesis 1:14 Then God said: "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years."
In Genesis 8:22, as part of God's covenant with creation following the Great Flood which destroyed all living on the earth apart from Noah, his family and the animals safe in the ark - God makes this statement:
 "While the earth remains,
   Seedtime and harvest,
   Cold and heat,
   Winter and summer, 
   And day and night
   Shall not cease."
Although God dwells in eternity, His creation, of which we are a small, although in God's purposes for us, not an insignificant part, are always subject to time and the seasons which become blocks of time.
For the Christian, who has been reconciled to the Father God, through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross for his or her sins, there is a confidence in knowing that the times and seasons of life do not have to be random experiences. As King David, one of the most prolific writers of the Psalms in the Old Testament said, in Psalm 31:14,15 But, as for me, I trust in You, O Lord;
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
And from those who persecute me. (emphasis mine)
It is interesting to note that, in the Christian church, surveys have shown that only a small percentage of respondents actually know what God has called them to do in life, and  even less are fulfilling that calling. Christians, of all people, should have a sense of direction and purpose in living. The Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity, dwells within every born again believer in Jesus, as our Teacher and Guide, to lead us into all truth, but also to establish in our hearts and minds the raison d'etre, our reason to be. We are not meant to live random lives, with no vision or direction in life. As has been said: "If you aim for nothing, you are sure to hit it."
In both the secular world of men, and in the Church of Jesus Christ, those who are making a difference in their own lives, and in that of their families and society around them, have realized their need to harness the time they have been given and make every season count in the big picture of life. This has meant, for many, seasons of preparation, leading to those of fruitfulness in careers and ministry, times of consolidation, followed by further growth.

For the follower of Christ, the past seasons of life, although they may have been good, are not meant to define the present nor the future. As Proverbs 4:18 says: The path of the just is as the shining sun,
         That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
When we look in the Bible, there are many examples of individuals who were led through various times and seasons, through different circumstances of life in preparation for times of great fruitfulness in their own lives and in the lives of those they impacted with their ministries and other influence.
Study the lives of Moses, Joseph, King David, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for example in the Old Testament - and of Jesus Himself, some of His twelve apostles such as Peter, James and John, and the apostle Paul. The Bible does not gloss over the failures and shortcomings of its greatest heroes. However, those who failed miserably,at times in terms of their character, whom we remember as great pillars of the faith, were those who repented of their sins and failures, turning fully back to God and availing themselves of the grace He so willingly provides to us all - to rise to places of honour in the Kingdom of God. 
Many of us can testify of having been through valleys of darkness and despair, through seasons of spiritual drought, and confusion when we have taken our eyes off of the Cross of Christ and the provision Jesus made for us to face every life challenge.
If you, reading this, currently feel your life is one of confusion, despair, and spiritual barrenness, may I encourage you to turn your eyes to Jesus, for times of refreshing, that He might fill you afresh with His Holy Spirit of grace, comfort, peace and joy, and lead you into the paths of righteousness in this next season of your life.
Jesus said in John 10:10 "The thief (Satan) comes to steal, kill and to destroy, but I have come that you might have life in abundance." 
Paul said we are to "redeem the time, because the days are evil."
For the Christian, through every season of life, we can confidently say with the apostle Paul: We know that all things work together for good, to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

If you are reading this, and have not discovered new life in Christ, for further information, here are a couple of suggestions of websites for further consideration: www.livingwaters.com and www.vision.org.au  Click on the 
Grow you faith tab, then Looking for God.

God Bless.