As we appear to be in the time and season of beginning our recovery from COVID-19, you can almost feel a palpable sense of relief that is coursing throughout the land. It has been a long, difficult year but we rejoice because we know that “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30: 5) Such wonderful and comforting words of hope that we all need so badly. And though it promises eventual triumph over tragedy, it also prepares us for the fact that more “nights” are coming. The nature of life on this planet is that there will be good times and bad times, happy times and sad times. As scripture sayeth, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8: 22) This is a very simple, transparent and inescapable statement of principle which is echoed in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes:
[1] To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which
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 get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; [7] A time to rend, 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 of war, and a time of peace.
But, as you very well know, right now it’s not all about the pandemic because there are many of us who are currently going through a time and season of suffering from a variety of issues that are not even related to the coronavirus. And I’m not talking about the normal, singular, everyday, run-of-the-mill irritants that we all go through. I’m talking about those times of taxing, tumultuous and troubling events and/or situations that are so crushing to the heart that it takes your breath away. Those times where we experience the challenges of extreme apprehension, fear, anxiety, dread and depression. Those seasons where the cumulative effects of a barrage of discouraging afflictions spark such distress and despair that we not only feel it in the recesses of our minds and the depths of our souls, but in our physical bodies as well. This is one of the reasons why it is so vitally important to maintain an “up close and personal” relationship with the Lord of all comfort, mercy and grace that we may be able to drink from the waters of divine healing during those turbulent times and those stressful seasons which the enemy uses to harass and discourage us.
SPOILER ALERT! Take it to the Lord in prayer!
Dear ones, I want you to know and believe with all of your heart that times and seasons do come and go but they don’t run the show because they are under the total control of Almighty God. Yes, even they are subject to the commands of the same glorious God that erected a wall of water to allow the Israelites to pass through the Red Sea. The same God that made the sun and the moon stand still for Joshua. The same God who cured Naaman the Syrian of leprosy. The same God that delayed death 15 years for Hezekiah. The same God that preserved Jonah in the belly of the great fish for 3 days and nights. And the power of the same God that was so magnificently displayed when Jesus calmed the chaos of the raging winds and crashing waves on the Sea of Galilee.
If we look we will see this same divine control exercised over other events nearly 2,500 years ago when the Hebrew captive Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (given the Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) were threatened with death from a Babylonian king if they could not reveal and interpret a disconcerting dream the king had. Did they panic at the madness of this menacing monarch’s bullying and intimidation tactics? No, they prayed. “Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” (Daniel 2: 17-19) Daniel then boldly and confidently declared to the king’s envoy, the very one who was sent to execute him, “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: And “HE CHANGETH THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS:” He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him.” (Daniel 2: 20-22)
Astounding! But knowing our God, not surprising. And at the conclusion of this incredible incident this pompous king was humbled and Gods’ children were all promoted to positions of great power and influence. “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” (Daniel 2: 47-49)
And all of this happened even before things later shifted and Daniel was cast into the lion’s den and the Hebrew boys thrown into the fiery furnace! It’s no wonder that they had such confidence in the Rock of Ages, the One Who does not change, even when the times and seasons change. These heroes of faith knew that God was in charge and it didn’t matter what time or season they were in, just that they were in good standing with the Lord of Hosts who had the ability and the authority to either stop or alter the current time and season in their behalf. “…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." (1 Corinthians 10: 13)
Even the Lord Jesus experienced His own time and season of great distress. His Father sent Him to taste death for us all as He faced a burden of humanity that only the Son of God and the Savior of the world was worthy of. He was subject to all of the carnal conditions that we are and set the model for patience, long-suffering and endurance. Because of this, Jesus is able to understand and empathize with all that we are going through. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.“ (Hebrews 4: 14-16)
We see Jesus coping with the heavy burden of His humanity during His appointed time and season in the Garden of Gethsemane as He tells His disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.” (Matthew 26: 38) With the debilitating prospects of a brutal torment that awaited Him, the Bible describes in graphic detail the magnitude of His distress: “And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22: 44) But notice what Jesus did in the midst of His anguish. He prayed! He also told His sleeping disciples three times to pray. Well saith Saint Luke who wrote, “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” (Luke 18: 1)
And right in the middle of His suffering, just like with Daniel in the den and the Hebrew boys in the furnace, an angel shows up to strengthen Him. “And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.” (Luke 22: 43) Brothers and Sisters, don’t you know that you have angels assigned to you as well, who are sent from heaven to help you through the difficult times and seasons of your life? “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” (Psalm 34:7) And though an avalanche of distressing events will come and go, the Psalmist reminds us that, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalm 34: 19)
Just never forget to pray. And pray and pray and pray. Don't pray and stray, but pray and stay. No matter what the enemy may say, don't wander away. Pray before, during and after your hardship. Even when you see it coming. Even before the anxiety subsides, the tension fades, the stress dissipates, the grief dissolves, the fear disappears or the pain is alleviated. Pour your heart out to God, then rise up and give Him the glory in the midst of your difficulty. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5: 13-16) And remember that fasting, in conjunction with prayer, is also another powerful weapon of spiritual warfare that is available to you as well: “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9: 29)
Dear ones, if you aren’t currently going through a time or season of distress, just wait, because you will. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4: 12-13) And when you do go through, make sure you are “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5: 7) Put your faith in God, not your focus on circumstances. God created both time and seasons and He is the Master of both. Therefore, no matter what time or season you may find yourself going through, rejoice and know that God is at the helm and powerfully working in the middle of it on your behalf.
And though the world may try to construct a utopian society or a perfect planet where there are no problems, issues or anxieties, we cannot escape our destiny with the times and seasons of our lives. Whether they be spiritual, physical, financial, emotional or mental, they are here to stay as long as this earth is here but, by the grace of God, we don’t have to be incapacitated by them. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” (Psalm 91: 1-2) And those who love and obey God certainly don’t have to be rendered unfruitful by them. “For he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1: 3) And, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17: 7-8)
Yes, we can walk through the times and seasons of this land with all of the challenges it presents and still greatly rejoice in the comfort, strength, provision and encouragement of the God Who created us and loves us with an everlasting love.
“Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3: 16)
Amen.
Comments