Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (A Time To...)

Sometimes I have a problem with God.  That sounds blasphemous, I know.  My problem is that I don't understand His ways and His reasons.

I don't understand why Josh suddenly lost his hearing in his right ear this summer, and it doesn't look like it will ever get better.

I don't understand why my Mom got cancer and died.

I don't understand why the baby we were so excited about last July didn't make it.

There is a lot I don't understand.  And that's just what I don't understand in MY life, let alone the whole world and all of its problems.

Pastor Jim talked to our class at church on Sunday, and he let us know that in the Jewish culture and the Old Testament, like the book of Job for instance, its much more acceptable to "wrestle with God" or to question why He's doing what He's doing.  For most of my life, I'd been under the impression that we should never question God.  That by questioning Him, we're not trusting Him.  But instead, I'm beginning to think that what kind of real relationship can be had when one party is very confused and upset by what the other is allowing or doing, but they aren't allowed to express those feelings and thoughts?  It wouldn't work in any of my earthly relationships, and I know that I'm talking about Almighty God here, but based on what I read about Him, I don't think He's put-off by our questions and our "whys".  In fact, for many of us, our "whys" might be the most we've ever talked to Him in a long time.  He can handle our "whys."

The problem is:  He doesn't always answer them.

And He doesn't have to.  I can ask all I want, and I can feel comfortable doing that.  But what if He doesn't actually answer my questions on my time line?  He doesn't have to.  He's God.

Now see, satan is very simplistic, and he's much easier to understand.  He is a being of pure evil, and everything he does is evil.  His reason is easily understood.

But God, however, is a quandary.  It is difficult to understand His actions in the short-term.  The big question:  if He's so good and all-powerful, then why are there so many problems in the world?

And this is the problem that leads Solomon to write Ecclesiastes Chapter 3.

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— (v.1)

The most important thing to remember is that God has made a time for everything that occurs.  Who is the one "appointing" in this verse?  God is.  He is the one in charge of the schedule of events.  He has a plan, and He does not waver from it.  He is not surprised by anything.  I like a line from the book I'm reading right now that says, "He is not always pleased, but He is never perplexed."

He is in charge.  And that's what we have to decide for ourselves first and foremost, before we go any further -- either God is sovereign or He's not.

Oh, trust me, I have wrestled with that question a lot the past few years.  I'm sure you have too, or if you haven't, you will some day.  But I am coming to find that every single event is part of God's plan.

² A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
⁶ A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.

Solomon tells us here that there will be a day that you will receive a call that someone you love has died, and you will weep.  But that won't last forever, because then you will move into your dream house or have a baby and you will laugh!  This is how life is.  For all of us.  So, we need to expect it. 

I hate to admit this, but until bad things started to happen to me, I really thought I was going to be the exception.  I really did.  I had gotten away with twenty-four years of my life with very little hardship, and I know compared to some, I have gone through relatively little hardship even still.  But, I can promise you, none of us will have a perfect, stain-free life.

There will be times where we need to tear down poor relationships, but there will also be times that we need to build certain ones up.  There will be times we need to hang on to something or someone and times when we need to let go.  There will be times when we should just be silent about the things we know about someone else and times when we should speak upliftingly about them to others.

We all will experience these seasons.  There is no escape, but that's not necessarily a bad thing either.

Here's the thing: God is not Santa.  He's not our personal genie or vending machine who gives us exactly what we want.  He's got bigger plans for you than to just give you what you think you want!  We don't even know what's good for us and how to take care of ourselves in the best ways (though so often I think I do).  God is in control.  He does not cooperate with our plans, and according to our rules, He does not "behave".

But here's the thing:  He loves us.  He loves us more than we could possibly imagine.  He celebrates our joys with us and cradles us when we cry.  The trek up the mountain is not always easy, but He promises that the place He's taking us (even while we're on Earth) is better than we could possibly imagine.  He has a destination for you.

So, if you're celebrating today, keep celebrating!  If you're smiling today, keep smiling!  What a great season you are in!  And remember that this season will probably not last forever, so enjoy it today.

And if you're crying today, remember that our lives are not meant for constant weeping.  You will laugh again.  Weeping is only a season.  Joy comes in the morning.  I can attest to that!

We can't see what's ahead, but He does, and He loves you.  While we are holding His hand, He holds the map.

He is authoring a great story in your life, one for His purposes and for your good.

Can you trust Him?