The tree outside my window that was covered with vibrant green leaves just a few short weeks ago is close to shedding its last brown scales. Fall is in full swing; signs that winter is soon to follow are evident as the days get colder and the days get darker. The rhythm of life has changed outside my window, and the rhythm has changed inside as well. Our family is spending more time indoors together and less time going to the park to play. We have a good understanding of the changes in the seasons and at least somewhat of an idea as to why. When Spring arrives it brings new life and the world is fresh. We can hear the birds singing in the morning again, we see the vibrant colors return to the earth, we feel the days getting warming and there seems to be an energy in the air. Summer heat grows the fresh vegetation and it welcomes the long days of work and play. During Summer, we explore this wonderful planet and anticipate the bounty as the harvest draws near. Fall beckons the expectation of harvesting the full-grown fruits of our labors. The shorter days lead to cooler nights and we see everything around us beginning to change; leaves falling and trees become bare. Winter is soon upon us and gives rest to the ground and most animals.
There is much that we can learn from the seasons that God has made (Gen.1:14). We have different seasons in our lives that we go through. I believe we also have them in our churches. It cannot always be Spring and Summer in our lives or at church. At times, the ground needs to rest, our hearts need to rest. There can’t be a harvest if there is no Winter. I think most places on Earth where people live, experience 4 seasons every year; of course, some seasons are longer and some shorter depending on the location (there may be a few exceptions). Might we gain some wisdom by observing the rhythmic changes in the seasons that happen every year in our lives and in the church? God made the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th day (Gen.2:1-3). God had the children of Israel rest every Saturday.
Studies show that people who regularly take time to rest feel happier, healthier, live longer, are less stressed, and feel closer to God.
In our busy world, we forget to rest, or worse, we think we don’t need to rest. God wants us to rest. You need to rest. We need to rest. There is a time to work, but there is also a time to rest. Maybe the most productive thing that we can do is simply to rest. And remember who provides us with true rest: our Lord and Savior. May you enter into His rest, which will provide for you what you need for the seasons in our lives and churches.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up 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;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
Kentucky Bread Beggar 