When the going gets tough... by Aije Barnes, Sept 3 Issue 3 Vol 3

'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 kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV)....

...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 3:11 NIV)",

The passages from the book of Ecclesiastes above, show us that there is a time for everything and a season for every purpose under heaven. 

The doing right thing at the wrong time, will never produce the right results. 

Also, not recognising and responding rightly to the purpose of the season you are in, will equally be unfruitful. 

Sometimes we don't know or understand why bad things happens to or around us and often feel dismayed or discouraged. Sometimes things don't work out the way we would like them too even after praying about it and we wonder, why?

The scriptures above, reminds us there is a time for everything and God has made everything beautiful in its time. 

We may not be able to understand everything, but we can trust God for everything - even when things don't seem to be going the way we want. 

Be encouraged by fact that there is a season for every purpose under heavens. Take for example what happens to plants in the two seasons of drought and rain. 

In the times of drought  (or need), the roots of plants grow deeper to stay alive. So even if you cannot see them blossoming and bearing fruit, they are growing stronger by growing deeper. It is their season of strength. They have hope that when the time for the first rain comes, they will blossom and surely they do, because they are responding rightly to the season in the same why they did when there was drought. 

Where would the plant be if it  did not grow its roots deeper during the drought but rather gave up and died?   Even the first rains would not be able to revive it back to life and no one would be blessed by the fruits it could have produced.

We can learn from this and grow deeper in Christ who is the Vine. When things are tough or seem not to be going our way, take strength from the fact that He is in control and is with you always just as He promised He would. Use that time to grow deeper in Him and draw strength from Him. During that time, allow Him fulfil His purposes for your life for that season as well as  prepare you for His purposes for the next season of your life so you can be fruitful at the right time. Remember He makes all things beautiful in its time. 

Listen to what the Lord says in Isaiah which as a child of God,

also applies to you 

"But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:1-7 NIV)"

And again in Jeremiah:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV)"

I pray that we will always remember that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

He grace is sufficient for you and His strength made perfect in your weakness. 

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

Remain in Him.