A Time to...

"There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven:
a time to give birth 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 throw stones and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;

a time to search and a time to count as lost;

a time to keep and a time to throw away;

a time to tear and a time to sew;

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

When we (Christians) go through times of feeling down, distant, emotional...and admittedly sometimes confused about all those emotions, we instantly think something is wrong with us.  But the Scripture above, God's breathed Word, tells us there are going to be those times in our lives... times like these even appeared in lives of some very godly people in the Bible.  I sometimes feel those stories are there to give us the comfort we need when we face these situations.  Take Elijah for example.

I am sure we are all familiar with how mighty Elijah was for our Lord, a prophet, standing firm, unafraid of the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah...Elijah is the one who initiated a 'stand off'.  Today we would say Elijah made a bet with these prophets...I bet my God can rain down fire from heaven and yours cannot.  Who's god would bring the fire down from heaven?  Elijah was grounded in his God...because He is the One true God, and he knew this from experience.....and Elijah's God, the only God delivered, just as Elijah said He would..(1 Kings 18)

But look what happens a few verses over...into Chapter 19...Ahab's wife, the infamous Jezebel, threatens Elijah and he takes off running for his life!  He ends up in Beersheba, then a day's journey into the wilderness, then asked God to let him die there....WHOA...wait a minute!  God's people aren't supposed to be like that!  Elijah was worn out, imagine the amount of faith and endurance were required of him to withstand against those prophets, to speak out for the Lord...(a time to speak)...but then, look what happens next..

An angel touched him, a loaf of bread and a jug of water were provided for him, he ate, drank...and slept.  Then did it again, from the strength of that food he walked 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb.  It was there Elijah poured his heart out to a compassionate and listening Heavenly Father.  He told God (my translation) he was tired of 'preaching' to a bunch of people who didn't care...they were selfish, turned their back on Him, killed the other prophets and were now trying to kill him, he was done!  God didn't say, oh, I understand, other people aren't doing what they are supposed to, so just take it easy and keep hiding out...no, He said, this is what I want you to do now.  He gave Elijah a new assignment.

Maybe what we need now is a new assignment...coupled with a blog for a few days ago, Winds of Change, sometimes that is what we need in oreder to gain a better prespective.  Whatever you are doing that isn't working, ask God for the wisdom you need to make the improvements or changes...He's the only One with the wisdom...

if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him...BUT let him ask in faith without doubting, for the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8

He loves us, even in our 'time to...' moments, talk to Him, take it to Him, and let Him give you the new marching orders!  Have a blessed day!