Overflow Daily...ish: A Time for Everything


1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break 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 cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 
8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 


If understood incorrectly, one might assume that Solomon is suggesting that life is full of contradictions. But I assure you that this is no Starburst commercial (see: Starburst Commercial). Solomon is expressing a reality of life. That life will not always be perfect and easy going. One of the greatest lies in modern evangelicalism is that once you accept Christ, life will be easy and you will be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. A lie that stems from the father of lies, Satan. No, Solomon reminds us that life is full of mixed emotions, messy relationships, and death. But there are also moments in life where there is joy and peace, and life. There truly is a “time for everything”.

This passage is probably the most well-known passage in all of the book of Ecclesiastes. For sure it is very often quoted in the context of sadness and grief. And many find comfort in this passage knowing that as we move in and out of seasons in our lives, they are very much just that…. seasons. They last for a portion of time and will not be forever, although some may be longer than others. But might this poem also be very encouraging in the life of a believer during the high times of life? Could these 28 paired items also instruct, encourage, and exhort us when things are going well? Could it be more insightful to us beyond the fifth stage of grief of acceptance where we glumly say “everything happens for a reason”?

I believe so. We learn first of all the limitations of our own abilities. We understand that, as finite beings, we operate in the realm of time and are powerless to do anything about it. Just as we have no control of when we are born or when we die, we take comfort knowing that God is sovereign over all things. He truly is omnipotent (all-powerful) and in control and directing whatsoever may come to pass. Being the good Father, we can enjoy the fruit of His promises and have complete assurance that they will never fail.

We are also reminded that we serve a personal God. He is not merely transcendent, above us and so far beyond us. He is also immanent, so very near to us. He cares about us and has ordained all things. We too often forget that He does care about us and even the seemingly insignificant events in our lives have meaning.

And so even in the good times, we can thank our God for His divine providence. For the rest He has given us from our trials, our pains, our labors. I believe that the proper approach is to thank God for our lot in life no matter the “time” in our lives. While there is a time for everything, there is never not a good time for us to worship God.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alex

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