“To everything, there is a season…” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Changes in life can challenge us. Although some transitions are smooth and joyful, others suddenly come at you like a sudden storm that leaves destruction in its path. We all have these seasons in life. The outcome is not based on the event, but on how you deal with the event. 

Maturity or misery is the outcome of managing life’s challenges.

The reality is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 are so right. To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what 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; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, 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.

How do we handle life’s challenges? It isn’t very reasonable to expect life always to be happy and joyful. As we get older, our bodies begin to wear out and become a challenge. We enjoy our kids as they have kids. We move forward in this life toward the eternity with Christ, which will last forever.

Handling Transitions

The first step of successful transitions is to accept these transitions as normal for everyone. It is normal to have emotional pain for a season. The Bible says, “Blessed are those who mourn…for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4“. A recent sermon I heard stated “there are events in your life you will never get over…but you can get through them. “Unexpected tragedies happen to us, and we never get over them, but we can with God’s help get through them. I remember the phone call from my sister that our dad died in a car wreck. We did not get over this tragedy; we got through it by God’s Grace. His Grace was sufficient for our emotions and times of grief.  

Allow the changes to do a work in you.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Know the God is at work in your time of struggle if you have faith in Him and love Him. This verse applies to those who “love Him.” Allow your love toward God and your faith in the Holy Spirit to produce strength and hope for the future. Embrace times of weeping to bring healing and sharing of love with others around you. 

Perseverance

Romans 5:3-4 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” It is the difficult times of life that produce deep, strong roots of faith and trust in God. As you mature in life’s struggle, you become a person of strength for others younger in life who need direction. Teach them to live life’s transitions in the Godly way.

Allow God’s purposes to unfold

God has a plan for your life. During that life, transitions will take place. Difficulties and seasons of joy and peace will dot your life. Be patient in these events and trust in God. Follow God and allow His plan to unfold in your life. Getting through the good and bad times are part of God’s path. They produce strength, hope, and faith for an eternal future.  

Maybe this is a difficult time for you personally. Certainly, this year is a challenge for us all. How should we manage in this time of transition? Love God, trust God, be patient, allow His Grace to deepen roots of faith and hope in your life. There will be some things you will never get over…but you can get through. May your lightnside grow bright, especially in the darkness.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5  

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

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The greatest’s paradox of the Christian walk is this. God’s power comes alive in our weaknesses. It promotes trust in God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. Just the opposite is also true. When we feel we have all the strength and answers, we discover life is better, trusting God in weakness than believing in ourselves.

Trusting God in weakness is a sign Christian maturity.

Walking through life’s difficult times and sometimes fearful situations is not easy. However, trusting God’s provision and believing God is in control of our life places all the responsibility in His hands. We simply walk in faith. We become weakest when we do not admit we are weak. When we think we are strong and smart, we are heading for more frustration and failure.

Paul’s example

Paul had a thorn in the flesh that he asked God to remove several times. He begged God to take this trouble away. God did not. Instead, God told Paul, My Grace is more powerful than your weakness. It is because you have a weakness that My power will grow in you. Most of us would continue to grip and be downcast because of our problems or troubles. Let us instead embrace our weaknesses and look to His greatness. During these stressful times, let us call upon God to lead us and to show His power even through impossible situations. That is where He lifts us beyond our ability to His glory.

Paul began to glory in weaknesses, in tough situations, in hunger and beatings. It was because when he was hurting, empty, and did not know what to do, God’s mercy would show up in power, direction, situations, and everybody recognized God’s power through Paul.

Lord, help me to see my difficulties as opportunities for your power to work through me.

Are there difficult things in your life that have your focus? 

Lift your eyes to Christ and ask for His grace. Allow God to show His power through you. In our weaknesses, God is strong and will gladly share His mercy, power, presence in your life. Let your lightnside shine with God’s Mercy.

What makes God laugh? We do, of course!

This devotion is from a writings by Liz Curtis Higgs on Nehemiah 8:10, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy and laughter are part of God’s plan for us. Consider these verses:

Psalms 16:11 ” You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Psalms 32:11 “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”

John 15:11, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

How one laughs with the Lord is as individual and private a decision as how one prays. Laughing is an expression of joy that comes from the heart of God Himself. Laughter and music are two of God’s finest gifts. They give us the ability to express our inner feelings about God with a sense of joy, anticipation, and participation. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.”

World vs. Godly humor

The best source of humor is right at the end of your nose as you are looking at a mirror. The ability to laugh at ourselves is a sign of maturity, healthy self-esteem, and having our priorities straight. Remember, God is on the throne, and we are on the ground!

Worldly humor – Glorifies sin / Puts others down / Ridicules Righteousness / Hurts the Spirit

Godly Humor – Avoids offense / Builds up others / Honors the Lord / Heals the spirit.

Laughter aids Healing

Laughter puts the emotions and the physical body in a healing mode. Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Laughter is a pain reducer; it increases our ability to cope with life. Laughter massages our internal organs and exercises our facial muscles. Laughter increases the heart rate and improves circulation.

Let us look at light and eternity and see the big picture. Let us rejoice in the Lord. Let us make sure we are not practicing the wrong kind of humor that is destructive but bring joy to others, and ourselves and all our lightnsides will shine bright.

“How many men does it take to fix the light? Only one…on a cross. And He fixed the light for all who believe.”

Ezra 9:8 …”That our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.

In my daily devotions, I came across this verse, and it would not let me go. “Give us a measure of revival in our bondage.” This passage is found in Ezra, where God has directed King Artaxerxes to allow some of the captive Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of God. 

Israel had been taken captive by enemy kings because of their failure to stay faithful to God. Israel was in bondage in a foreign kingdom and away from God’s blessings. But a change is beginning to take place. Now Israel is allowed to return to Jerusalem with a repentant heart. God has shown them mercy and His blessing so that in their bondage, revival could break out.

2020 – The year of bondage.

This year has been like no other in our memories: a world pandemic virus, great hatred in politics, and the cities. Sexual perversions and destruction of the Biblical family have attacked our schools and even churches—rebellion toward authorities. Financial challenges are pressing in on cities, businesses, and families. This year is a year of bondage like no other in my life.

Two things must happen for revival to break out in our bondage.

1. God must enlighten our eyes. God must make clear the eyes of our heart and understanding of the path toward sin our nation has traveled.  2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
   • Are there areas in your life that needs repentance?
   • Pastor, do you preach a message of holiness and repentance?
   • Are you praying for our nation to return to God?

• God must send the revival. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. Man cannot create revivals. We can seek and pray for revivals, but only God can send His presence into a place or nation to bring about sincere repentance. I was a part of the Brownsville Revival in 1995 to 2000. God brought revival into that sanctuary on Father’s day. An outpouring of God’s presence caused thousands to travel and experience a true revival of His presence. This revival changed my life forever.
  • Seek God for revival.
  • Return to daily devotions and prayer.
  • Love the Lord you God with all your heart.

As followers of Christ, we must again look to God and ask for a revival in our bondage. We must ask God to enlighten our eyes as we repent of the sins of our nation. 

Revival in our bondage

I believe God will send us His presence. I believe this nation built with faith and guidance from God will once again see His glory bring about a great revival. This verse in Ezra encourages me. Take the time to read the rest of this chapter that starts with (verse 9) “For we were slaves, Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage…” (click here to read)

Allow your lightnside to seek God’s favor on America and a measure of revival in our bondage.