Today is the first day in the month called Kislev. According to rabbinical reckoning, this day was considered the official beginning of winter, ending one season and beginning another. In Creation, we see the cyclical nature of God’s design and, consequently, the cyclical nature of God’s Word. We also see how there are cycles in our own lives. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1-4:
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”
All of the good and the bad of life – the conveniences and inconveniences – come in seasons and cycles. According to Solomon, all of these seasons and cycles end up serving God’s purpose in our life and in His creation.
Sometimes there are seasons where everything seems to be going consistently wrong, whether health, finances or family relationships. Things seem to pile on top of one another subjecting us to intense pressure. Yet at the same time, these difficult times can provoke a renewed fervor and zeal for God’s purpose in our lives. Perhaps this is, in part, the purpose for these trying seasons.
Ideally, our zeal for God should never wane, but the reality of life is that there are seasons that are a lot more pleasant than others. If you feel like you’ve been experiencing a season of breaking down, or a season of weeping, then perhaps that’s an indication a season of building up and dancing is on the horizon. Whatever season that we find ourselves in, we need to acknowledge that everything has its purpose and its fruition. Eventually, when the purpose if realized, it will come to an end and a new season will begin.
Finally, we should recognize that the seasons we are experiencing will visit us again. Just like fall will become winter and winter will become spring, spring will lead to summer and summer will take us back to fall, again, so the seasons in life will come back around at some point in time. The Gospels record that, at the beginning of His ministry, the Messiah was tempted of the Adversary. When confronted with Scripture, Satan eventually went away, however, that didn’t mean that he wasn’t going to try to tempt Him, again. The Gospel of Luke says:
“Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him for a season.” (Luke 4:13)
Clearly, he intended to come back and try again. However, also notice that Luke records that when the Messiah left this season of temptation, He was immediately empowered by the Spirit of God.
Our prayer for today is that we will not give up in our season of testing. As we are being broken, through our tears we must remain steadfast and believe that another brighter season is on the horizon. Be encouraged and do just what Messiah did when He was tempted by the adversary: speak the Word of God to that situation and rely upon the truth that is in His word, knowing that He will faithfully bring us in to the next season.
Shalom.
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