In the
1960s, the folk-rock band The Byrds popularized the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” It
climbed to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and gained
worldwide popularity. People seemed captivated by the lyrics. Interestingly,
though, except for the last line, those lyrics are from the Old Testament book
of Ecclesiastes.
“To
everything there is a season,” proclaims the writer of Ecclesiastes, “a time
for every purpose under heaven” (3:1). He then lists some of the seasons in
human experience: birth and death, gain and loss, tears and laughter, mourning
and dancing. Just as the seasons in nature change, so do the seasons in our
lives. Our circumstances never stay the same for long.
Sometimes
we welcome change in our lives. But often it is difficult, especially when it
involves sorrow and loss. Yet even then we can be thankful that God does not
change. “I am the Lord,” He said through the prophet Malachi, “I do not change”
(Mal. 3:6).
Because God remains the same, we can rely on Him through the shifting seasons of life. His presence is always with us (Ps. 46:1), His peace has the power to guard our hearts (Phil. 4:7), and His love provides security for our souls (Rom. 8:39).
