A Time For Everything…Including Change
I love spring! I love seeing the first flowers open up, smelling my apple tree blossoms, and hearing the sweet sound of the birds singing their love songs to each other. The earth seems to come alive again after a state of being dormant during the long cold winter months. Going outside and working in the warm spring weather, deeply breathing in the smell of the earth, my spirit begins to soar. I see things with new eyes. It is a change in the seasons. It is a positive change.
The movie Bambi depicts this change of season so beautifully. I forget which character used this term, but they spoke of the animals being “twitter pattered.” Spring is a season of love. Looking at things, people, events…just life with new eyes.
Each day I walk out to my gardens and I am amazed at the handy work of my Lord. He has given me a great desire to enjoy the beauty of all things that He has created. For me, Spring is a time of healing and renewal. It is the start of new life jumping out of the earth boldly and dramatically. Everything seems to have new life. It is as if everything is coming back to life to praise God.
Psalm 96:11-13a says it well: Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord…
Is that not what Spring is? All of God’s creations are praising Him! Psalm 150:6 goes on to say: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Sometimes in the dead of winter I think our hearts can get hard and we forget the beauty that God has created for us. This even includes the beauty of change. Ecclesiastes 3 speaks of different seasons of change.
Ecclesiastes 3 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
[NIV at IBS] [International Bible Society] [NIV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]
Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
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.
9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account. [a]
16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I thought in my heart,
“God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed.”
18 I also thought, “As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath [b] ; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal [c] goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
God has intended for a time of everything. Does that mean that change will be easy. No, it does not. Does that mean that we should be closed minded to change because of the challenges that change can bring about? No, it does not. Change can be a very difficult thing, but through the change, we can grow closer to our Lord. Fear can so often tear at our hearts when change presents itself and then we miss out on the beautiful gift that God had intended to give us.
How many times have you fought change in your life and allowed something to be rejected only because of the fear that was so deeply rooted in your heart that prevented you from seeing the entire picture? Doesn’t the Bible tell us that we should “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” (1 Peter 5:7)?
Instead of exerting so much energy into fear of the unknown, maybe we should trust more. Isaiah 41:10, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:13, For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand, and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
God does not intend for us to be full of fear. He expects us to trust in Him. I encourage you today, to look at change with new eyes. God will walk right beside you during these times. Life is full of change. Sometimes it is difficult because of things that have happened in our past. Sometime we just don’t want to let go of our old ways. Sometimes we can become intimidated and can’t rationalize things in a healthy manner. Whatever the reason, try to see that God has a bigger plan. After all, He should be in the driver’s seat. When you decide to let Him take the wheel, watch out! You will be in for the ride of your life!
Lord, I know that change can be very difficult for some of us. Sometimes we just want to drag our feet and scream and rant and rave. Sometimes we just don’t want things to change because we are happy with the way things are. Many times we don’t want to leave our comfort zones. Through out the Bible You show us how change happens and although we may not understand at the time, You know that big picture…the scheme of it all. Lord, give us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that desires Your will. Help us to know that it is You in the driver’s seat. I love you, Lord and thank You for your everlasting love! You amaze me with the changes that happen with each season of my life. I thank You for helping me to keep an open mind and an open heart to change.
*Photos are from my spring gardens and orchards. A favorite pass time of mine!
My name is Sonya. I wear many hats in my house! I am the loving wife of Russell and the mother of 10 beautiful children and waiting for our precious son in Liberia, Daniel. So really, I am the mother of 11! In January of 2008 we brought home 3 brothers from Liberia. Daniel is their uncle and we are working on bringing him home now. I home school our children with the help and support of my wonderful husband. I am making an attempt at writing which has been a wonderful pass time when I can find the time! I am a new graduate from She Speaks, which is a ministry from 
How true, insightful, and challenging. Of course, there is the corresponding issue of discerning when change is a new thing that God is doing or when it is just us moving into the driver’s seat. The fear that Abraham had in producing Ishmael was not a fear of change, but a fear that God was too small to do His work without a little driving from Abraham. Instead of walking in faith and believing God was big enough to do His work, Abraham took another’s resources and declared it to be the new thing that God was doing. Obviously, it’s very important that we be open to the wisdom and discernment to understand which change is from God being in the driver’s seat, and which change is from our being in the driver’s seat.
I agree, Karl, with making sure it is God in the driver’s seat. I didn’t think that Abraham declared this to be the new thing that God was doing. Sara pushed him to this. Abraham was hesitant in going forth with what his wife was requesting. In the end, they had realized that it was wrong.
It can be hard to discern what is from God and what is from man. I tend to use this method when discerning if something is of God. I have always done this, but Lysa TerKeurst puts it very nicely in her book, “What Happens When Women Say Yes To God,” 1. Does what I’m hearing line up with Scripture? 2. Is it consistent with God’s character? 3. Is it being confirmed through messages I’m hearing at church or studying in my quiet times? 4. Is it beyond me? 5. Would it please God? (page 35).
I think this is a good way to help discern whether it is something of God or of man. Walking in faith can be hard, but it is a wonderful thing when Jesus is taking the wheel.
Thanks for your insight, Karl. Always appreciate it!
Yes, this probably wasn’t the best example and your insight from TerKeurst is excellent. I would add, though: (1) Abraham received the promise of a son before Sarah’s request and probably had it in mind at the time of her request. (2) We are still accountable for our choices regardless of who suggests them. “…And Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” Gen. 16:2b (3) When God made it clear that His promise (”new thing”
was to be fulfilled through Sarah, Abraham seemed to doubt and to suggest that this promise (”new thing” 
could be done through Ishmael.
“Abraham fell to the ground, laughed, and thought in his heart, “Can a child be born to a hundred year old man? Can Sarah, a ninety year old woman give birth? So Abraham said to God, ‘If only Ismael could live in Your presence.’” Gen. 17:17-18
I would say that this story is more towards waiting patiently on the Lord once He has revealed something to you. That can be a very difficult and hard time. There have been times when the Lord has revealed things to me and I wanted it to happen like yesterday! It is during those times we can tend to take over on the driving and try to rush what is supposed to happen in God’s time and not our own. Having patience and waiting patiently on the Lord to fulfill His promise is one of the hardest things to do.
Thanks again for your insight into scripture! So many times we can tend to put God in a box, just as Abraham did when God told him that he and Sarah would have a son at a ripe old age! Abraham just couldn’t imagine how God could possibly do that. God is so big! I think sometimes our minds just can’t grasp how big He truly is!
I loved seeing you yesterday. I hope to get see you soon. Cant wait for summer when we can come over and hang out.
I love reading your blog. Todays entry is very much where I am, in the midst of change. I pray for strength and thank God for his servants who are encouraging me every step of the way.
Love you,
amy
I have really appreciated the wisdom in these insights, as well as Karl’s comments. I have a few comments as someone who has always stood on top of the fence, rarely getting directly involved yet always striving to see all sides of an issue or concern.
To those rejecting change I would ask this question: What is it that concerns you? Is it simply a personal preference that things continue to go your old way? Or is it a genuine concern because the change or “new thing” goes against who God is as He has revealed Himself to you? If it is the former, you must let go and give God control immediately! (good advice for me at many times in my life). However, if you have humbly begged God for clarity, and still choose to reject the change because it truly does not seem to be of God, then you must not give in. You must have the stamina of a warrior with your rejection if you are certain that the new thing is not of God. Even the best and sweetest human intentions can become sinful if presented as the word of God. That is why it is so important to use every effort possible to let God show what is of Him, and what is simply well-meaning human intention.
To those who want to bring change I say this: If you are certain this change is of God and not of any human mind, you must never give up. Introducing change may be a true “step-at-a-time” process. But, I do have one warning, which I have failed to heed myself at times. NEVER allow yourself to get to a place where you can not even grasp where the other side is coming from. Change can be so exciting that the meek (and often silent) ones among us get swept away in the current. Understand that, just as some of us are born with a inclination towards change and new things, others are born with a preference towards solidity and dependibility. Even if we can not see it, the people against change may truly have their own convictions from God. Their concerns can be incredibly valid. Ignoring them completeley could be dangerous…no…disastrous, for the life of a group of people who love and care for each other. What could be worse than to feel that your own opinion, or your very heart, is of no consequence to the “greater” whole? It would be better to lose a limb than to suffer through that at the hands of those you love and respect.
After all, our opinions are not what make us who we are. It is what we do with the lives we have been given that reveals the most. After all, God probably gets a good chuckle out of all our personal opinions and the little issues that really stick under our skin.