Beautiful
“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 weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance…
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing…
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-5,11
As I read these words written by King Solomon, I am reminded that a season is temporary and eventually comes to an end. We have all been through a season where we have experienced loss, pain, grief, anxiety, and frustration.
Those words from Ecclesiastes bring me comfort and hope knowing that God has been at work throughout our hard season. We will soon look back and see that God has made everything beautiful in its time.
Let’s not forget that the aftermath of this season will affect us in different ways. For example, this past week, my family was excited to return to a weekend full of sports activities. My husband Moses, who works graveyard, sacrificed his sleep to take our kids to their sports activities. Two of my three kids had doubleheaders, and I had back-to-back celebrations of life. At the end of a very busy day, instead of staying home to recuperate, we attended a close friend's birthday party. We were exhausted by felt energized by the full weekend.
In contrast, not everyone is ready to return to a "normal" life. They are still dealing with job loss, health issues, and other Covid related issues. We need to understand and respect everyone’s level of comfort. During this time, some, unfortunately, have to mourn the death of loved ones and experience grief at a deeper level than others.
I am hopeful and excited about how God is working in my life at home and work as we come out of a challenging season. I see growth in my family as they push through no matter the circumstances. I see growth in our Sunday School, in our Women’s Bible Study, and our church community. People are reconnecting and rebuilding relationships.
Hope and faith can keep us encouraged as we look forward to new things. We have the assurance that God is at work and is making things beautiful in His time. Let’s be mindful and thankful for God’s love and faithfulness. Let's see this as a transition of growth. Hopefully, the worst is behind us, and our faith in Christ and others remains strong.
Let’s do life together and encourage each other in all circumstances. Everyone in our church family has a story to share about this last year, so I challenge everyone to reach out to someone new and support them in their journey.
No matter what season you are going through, God is at work and ahead of us. He is coming alongside us, ready to rejoice and provide comfort in all that we experience. Through it all, let’s give God honor and praise for He is good and faithful!
Blessings,
Grimelda Sanchez