Topic: Seasons of Life
Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.”
Life moves in seasons. There is a season of planting and a season of harvesting. There is a season of weeping and a season of rejoicing. There is a season when doors seem closed and another season when God opens doors nobody can shut. Your present season is not your permanent address. What you are experiencing today may be real, but it is not necessarily final.
- Joseph had a prison season, but his season changed into a palace season.
- David had a wilderness season, but his season changed into a royal season.
- Hannah had a season of barrenness, but her season changed into a season of fruitfulness.
- The disciples had a season of sorrow after the death of Jesus, but Pentecost changed their season into a season of power.
God is never late. His timing may not agree with our calendar, but His timing always agrees with His purpose. God’s timing is the appointed season in which God chooses to bring His purpose, promise, opportunity, answer, or breakthrough into reality.
There is a difference between God’s promise and God’s timing. God may tell you what He will do without telling you when He will do it. Abraham received the promise of a son, but he had to wait for the appointed time. David was anointed king, but he did not immediately sit on the throne. This teaches us: A promise from God does not always come with an immediate change. Sometimes God gives you the promise today but prepares you for it tomorrow.
When God does not answer immediately, we often conclude: “God has forgotten me.” “God doesn't care.” “Maybe the promise wasn't for me.” But sometimes heaven is saying: “Not yet.”
There is a difference between: No, Not yet and “I have something better,” Consider Joseph. He was betrayed, sold into slavery and imprisoned. From Joseph's perspective, everything appeared to be going backward. But from God's perspective, Joseph was being positioned. The prison was not his destination but part of his preparation.
God does not merely ask: “What do you want?” He also considers: “What is His purpose for your life?” Jesus understood divine timing. At Cana, when His mother brought the matter of the wine shortage to Him, Jesus spoke about His hour. Throughout His earthly ministry, Scripture repeatedly refers to His “hour.” Jesus understood that there was an appointed time for His manifestation, ministry and sacrifice. This teaches us something powerful: Purpose has a timetable. When you understand purpose, you become less anxious about timing.
God's timing is one of the hardest lessons of faith because we live by clocks, while God works by seasons. Wait on God, but don't waste the time spent waiting. Pray while you wait. Prepare while you wait. Serve while you wait. Grow while you wait. Believe while you wait. Because when God's time comes, what looked like delay will suddenly become a testimony of faith and victory.
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem