Trusting God in Times of Transition - Ecclesiastes 3

Greetings fellow worshippers. We pray that you continue to be blessed during this fast. He is sharing so much of His heart. Praise Him for His faithfulness. We must always remember that God inhabits the praises of His people no matter if we are in the valleys and on the mountain tops for He is good all the time. In this season, we are learning the importance of trusting our King in all things and especially in the in-between transition periods. Let us pray.

Our Father who art in Heaven. Hallowed be Thy Name. For You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, in whom I trust my whole being. The Author and Finisher of my faith…You are so faithful. I submit Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and this devotional study to You. Show me the gleanings that You wish me to pick up today and consume. You are my sight and the Light on my path. Give me the mind of Christ and prepare my heart for all that is in this time with You. I surrender all to You as You prepare me for the call on my life. Continue to burn away the chaff and strengthen my mind and spirit until all that is left is You. Prepare me as refined gold. Forgive me for my short-sightedness in this season. I trust You for You created my innermost being and know me better than anyone. I trust in Your sovereignty. I forgive others who have sinned or trespassed against me. May mercy and grace be extended to me and to them as well. I desire peace. Your peace, not as the world gives, but Your Divine peace. Bless this study. I commit it to You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

This new season drew me to Ecclesiastes 3 (NKJV) which states,

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,    

a time to plant and a time to uproot,    

a time to kill and a time to heal,    

a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,    

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,    

a time to search and a time to give up,    

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

    a time to tear and a time to mend,    

a time to be silent and a time to speak,    

a time to love and a time to hate,    

a time for war and a time for peace.

Praise You Lord that You are intentional in all that You do. There are seasons that are set for a time for everything under Heaven. This is ultimately for Your glory and for our benefit. May we always trust that You know best for our lives. Amen.

From Abraham (in Genesis), Moses (in Exodus), and David (in 1 and 2 Samuel) God's intentional use of His creation has been focused on the establishment and blessing of His people. A people to call His own. Sending Jesus from the Throne to Earth to take on the humble state as the Son of Man and also being the Son of God proves to all of use that our Father held nothing back. Hallelujah and Amen! Thank you Father for doing this for us ... and for me.

Further considering the testimony of God's unwavering love to His people, I cannot help but reflect on how each of these servants of God related to their Creator. Abraham and Moses spoke with the Lord. David brought the ark back to be amongst the people and attended to by musicians and priests in 1 Chronicles 16 in order to have the presence of God among them. None of these men walked with the Lord blamelessly. Still, God made and upheld covenants that are still in place today. Jesus was sent to fulfill both the Mosaic and Davidic covenants. Oh God... thank you for not giving up on us, your people, and for being a covenant keeping Father.

I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NKJV) continues to share that, “I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him."

You can see the trust and the heartbreak of Abraham as he obeys God in sacrificing his only son from the union of he and Sarah, Isaac. Abraham trusted God. His faith that His Father would fulfill the convenant given about offspring as numerous as the sand and the stars was on the line with this act of obedience. If Isaac died, would God provide another son through Sarah? Who knows what he thought but we know that he was faithful to do exactly what God said to do. This great faith was counted as righteousness as shared in Hebrews . As I re-read the story, the ram in the thicket given to Abraham for the substitute for Isaac in Genesis 22:13 demonstrates why we should be able to trust Him.

I could write more about Moses' trust of God as he led the Israelites out of capitivity and across the Red Sea. Exodus is filled with a man who heard God speak out of a burning bush and trusted that He would be there every step. Moses needed to trust Him. And He did. Numbers 12:3 describes Moses as the most meek servant walking on the earth during his day. I have read that Moses bowed down, taking a humble posture every time the Israelites complained or were causing dissention. Moses trusted His God during the 40 years in the wilderness to provide food and prepare the Israelites to go into the promised land. David also trusted God during times of distress before and after he was crowned King. And of course, Jesus, the Son of God, trusted His Father, unto death for our sakes. How can we not trust our Father who has done so much for us!

What season are you in? Do you trust God to take you through the transition?

Transitions can be challenging, but the greatest gift that the Lord has for us is Himself. Speak that aloud… the greatest gift that the Lord has for us is Himself! Praise Him. We must never forget this fact. His faithfulness shows His is our Abba Father. I personally have seen Him carry me through every valley, mountaintop, and even in the in-between spaces. I trust Him to continue to refine me by His fire for the days ahead for the alignment of my intentionality to be unapologetic about the things of God must happen, and some unneeded things broken off.

I pray for the peace of God to surround you, my brothers and sisters, during this season of transition. Trust Him. Remember that Psalm 4:5 (NKJV) says “Offer the sacrifices of the righeous and trust in the Lord." Therefore I will do exactly that.

Dear Lord, I offer my sacrifies of praise as I bring all other offerings into the storehouse. "I press forward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" from Philippians 3:14. Amen.