“God has made everything beautiful for its own time” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

The life in which we live can be full of ups and downs. At any given point, it can be filled with contrast. Some moments we go through valleys, while other moments we are climbing over mountains. We go through successes, and we go through failures. We have wins, and we have losses. In the reality of weather, there are four seasons. But in your life, there are dozens of different seasons. And every season of life includes both good and bad times.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 gives us a representation of different life experiences: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace” (NLT).

I just want to submit that life can be a combination of contrasting seasons.

But here is also a true reality, all sunshine and no rain make a desert!!! Contrasting seasons brings about balance to your life!!! 

When you are following God’s will, seeking to live your life according to the way God wants you to live, you will eventually see that contrasting experiences can have purpose and value in your life. There’s a time and season for everything. But everything will not always beautiful. Sickness and illnesses are not beautiful. War is not beautiful, etc. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11: “God has made everything beautiful for its own time” (NIV). God can take even the bad things in the proper season, turn them around, and use them for good in the way He intends. You may be going through a season right now that is not beautiful. Your finances look ugly. Your health looks ugly. Your marriage, family, or a friendship looks ugly. Your future looks ugly. The future of our Country’s moral is ugly. But God can make something good out of all of it when you trust Him.

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9 KJV). 

By experience, every farmer knows that what you sow in one season, you will reap in the same season or another season. You plant in the spring, depending on what you plant, your harvest will come in the spring, summer, or fall. 

Likewise, the way you sow financially, spiritually, emotionally, how you respond to someone or to a situation right now is definitely going to affect your future. If you sow or respond correctly in any season of life and you do the right thing, even when you don’t feel like it, it pays great dividends in the future. 

Serving the Lord “His way” always payoff in due time. 

“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9 KJV). Let me suggest it as simply as this, don’t give up. 

No matter which season you’re in, “due season” is on its way!!! 

Here are four questions that I want to  suggest you ask yourself, because I believe it will honestly help you reap God’s blessing in the next season.

    1. What can I learn in this season of life?

There are some things we only learn through experience. 

Deuteronomy 11:2 says, “Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him”. 

    2. What can I enjoy in this season of life?

The Bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

We should live the good days and the bad days with a sense of gratitude, because each day is still an awesome gift from God.

    3. What is most important for this season?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”. 

Let me submit this right here: You can’t have it all or do it all at one time!!! 

You just might have to make some tough decisions about what really matters at this time in your life. With all the foolishness going on around right before our eyes, this is the season for all of us to focus on the things that are most important!! 

    4. How can I help others in this season of life?

The Bible says clearly that you weren’t put on this earth just to live for yourself: “Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help”. Proverbs 3:27. God gave you abilities, talents, and energy to help other people.

I’m closing with this: today sow into where you want to go, sow into where you want to grow, pray to the Lord to cover you, and your harvest. Also pray to the Lord to teach you how to trust Him in all seasons, good or bad, so that you are spiritually developed into an authentic version of a true disciple. 

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV

I want to submit to you that the principle of sowing and reaping does not only apply to finances. 

It also applies to every area of life. Whatever you sow in life, you’re going to reap. Whatever you deposit is going to be returned to you. Let me also submit this, you can’t expect to make withdrawals from “grace” accounts where you haven’t made any “grace type” deposits!!!

 If you sow criticism in life, you are going to reap criticism from other people. If you sow kindness, you’re going to reap kindness. It’s the reality of the harvest. If you plant apple seeds, you don’t get pears; you get apples. This is the simple principle of the harvest. If you sow with generosity, you will reap generosity. 

There are many who ponder these questions, “How should I give? What should I give? Where do I start. How can I start?” Whenever or wherever you have a need, plant a seed. When a farmer looks at his barren fields, he doesn’t gripe about it. 

He just goes out and starts planting some seed. If he only has a little bit of seed, he has a choice. He can either hoard it, or he can sow it. If he holds on to it, that’s all he will have. But if he sows it, God will multiply it. Here is what is so amazing about this, you don’t just reap what you sow. You always reap MORE than you sow! God set it up this way. This is a season for you not to be afraid of tithing, sowing offerings, or sowing life seeds of grace, etc. 

He wants you to become a giver just like him. God is always giving. He is always sending blessings. The only way that you’re ever going to become like Him in this capacity is to learn to be generous. When you’re stingy, you’re not in the likeness of God. But when you’re generous, you’re like Him. When you give it away, no matter what it is, God multiplies it.

I know this sounds illogical, to give when you have a need so that you will get more back. This is why it requires faith! God says the way you get is by giving. Give and it shall be given unto you!!! 

John 16:24

24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. 

Have you ever prayed for it, before you paid for/on it??  Do your spending habits and your prayer life intersect??? What are some of the ways that your life reflects you trusting God with your finances?? Do you pray before making major purchases?? Are you in a space of financial need and waiting for God to help? 

Take some time to honestly answer those questions because this is a season where we all need to trust God with our finances to be blessed through our giving, and to be guided spiritually in becoming good stewards over our blessings. 

God has promised to meet your financial needs. He’s just waiting for you to ask for His help! 

The Lord never shuts down His storehouse, it’s always open. One of the reasons we see so few miracles in our lives is because we just don’t ask for them, nor show we truly trust Him. 

Instead of living a life based on having our hope in Christ, we live a life based on credit. When we have something, we need, before we even think about asking God about it or for it, we just go and use that credit card lol. If you want to see God work in your life, pray for it before you pay for it!!!

Pray about becoming better at stewardship. Pray about your financial miracles, breakthroughs, and needs. There are some things He wants to give you to show that miracles are still happening. 

Be specific with what you ask but also show Him that you trust Him with your ASK. Let me remind you that God is a loving father. The text shows that He wants you to ask for things in prayer so He can give them and fill you with joy.  He wants to bless your life! You just must ask the Father, in Jesus’ name.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (NIV) Ephesians 3:20-21

God is a competent Father. He can handle any problem you give Him. There is nothing beyond His ability, too big for His ability, nor His resources. Nothing is too hard, too big, nor even is any request too small.

I remember being asked by a member once, “Pastor, is it really okay for me to talk to God about the small things in my life? Shouldn’t I just only talk to him about the big problems I have?” 

I smiled and responded, “Can you imagine any problem you would have, that God would consider too big? Or a problem He would consider too small to care about? God cares about it all.”

 The Bible teaches, “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37). I have literally cut the word “impossible” out of my dictionary because it is not in God’s vocabulary. Nothing is impossible for God. 

It amazes me now, when I look back at my kids’ expectations of me when they were little. They thought I could fix anything, lift anything, do anything, afford everything lol, and knew it all. As they grew up, they learned that their father had limited knowledge (I don’t know everything), limited energy (everything that is starts to become a was lol), limited resources, etc..

But your heavenly Father really can do anything. Ephesians 3:20 is literally translated, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think”.

Maybe that’s why Paul suggests that “ I count not myself to have apprehended” (Philippians 3:13). With God we can always find the encouragement to keep looking forward!! 

Yesterday’s impossibilities are today’s miracles with God!! God specializes in the impossible! He is a competent Father. Whatever you are willing to trust Him with today, Do IT!!!