"A Time To Every Purpose" - Spiritual Lessons

"A Time To Every Purpose"

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose, under the heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

"In winter there are no roses blooming in the deserted, wind-swept, snow-covered garden. Nor in summer do crystal snowflakes fly. Each season has its own work, its own beauty, and by hands of another season this work cannot be done, this beauty cannot be breathed. And so of man's life. Each season has its own duties and its own joys, and if they are not laid hold of, no other season can make up the loss; they are gone down the dim, untraveled river of Forever. Each day, indeed, has its own duty, its own smile, its own tear, its own heart throb. If only it be lived in for itself, life would be fuller and richer in everything; and the clusters of blessedness hanging from the boughs of each day would proclaim life's every season to have wrought well, and to deserve well, for what lies before. Alas! that we let the burdening tomorrows crush the energy and strength out of today, so that its work is undone or marringly done. Give your today a chance. Give it only its own work to do, and evening will find you laughing over the beauty and faithfulness that smiles up to you from the well-done duties; and the eternal tomorrow will meet you with the kisses of tenderness, not with wounding blows."

-Mrs. Charles E. Cowman- (Taken from the book Traveling Toward Sunrise)

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose..." Winter will not last all of the year, just as the darkness of night does not cover the entire day. Trials will not last forever. Spring is coming. The dawn will break forth with singing. And yes, even trials have their own season. It is encouraging to know that the Lord never places us in trials, in the darkest of nights, without a purpose and only for a time.

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (I Peter 5:10)

"weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

Just as one season will eventually fade into the next...so are our trials. They may feel as if they'll last forever, but be sure that they will not. The Lord knows just what we can handle and He never gives more than that. He will not keep you in a place of difficulty, in suffering, in sorrow, or darkness longer than He knows is absolutely necessary.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (I Corinthians 10:13)

I may not be able to see what He is doing through the trial or understand the reasoning behind it, but He is still good and I can trust Him. He knows better than I do. He is just. And His ways, though often unsearchable, are right.  

“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

"We ought not to worry. God will take care of us. It is important only that we are His and obey and do our best. His ways may be 'mysterious,' but be sure that with infinite wisdom and infinite goodness He plans for His own." -Mrs. Charles E. Cowman-

It is said, no to take on the cares of tomorrow, because we do not have the grace of tomorrow. How true this is. It is easy to find ourselves quickly taking on those burdens, which do not belong to us. It is also very easy to subtly take on these burdens of tomorrow, simply by thinking only of the hopelessness of a situation. As if, a struggle of life, some sorrow, or heartache will never come to an end.

"Often, when you have almost fainted in spirit, the thought comes, 'If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, what shalt thou do with the horsemen?' Put it from you, it is a faithless thought; if you need more strength, you will have it, be sure of that; or the call to greater exertion may never come to you. Your business is with the present; leave the future in His hands who will be sure to do the best, the very best for you." -Priscilla Maurice-

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6:34)

Trials should be faced on a daily basis. Each day, the Lord gives the grace to bear. To take on the whole future of a trial, is overwhelming.

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." (Psalm 42:5)

He has lessons that can only be learned in the exact season you find yourself in now, that no other season can make up the loss of. He knows what He is doing and is a safe place to put our trust. Sorrows do not have to be wasted. Trials are not in vain, but instead, can be some of the most precious times. They are times of great need. Times of such sweet comfort from God, Himself, that cannot be experienced otherwise. They can be amazing opportunities to see Him work as never before. He will prove faithful. And He will use them in our lives, if we would only let Him.

"...Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day:"    (Exodus 14:13)