And the God who makes everything beautiful for its own time

Bethany Turner
Bachelor of Ministry and Theology (Honours) student
Avondale College of Higher Education

This is it: Avondale’s year of 2011 is about to end.

It’s hard to believe.

I remember the year beginning with similarly hot, sunny days. Classes were starting. Everything seemed fresh and new.

What about now?

Summer holidays stretch tantalisingly ahead, but, for many, a question mark hangs over them: what next?

My dreams for next year have plenty of gaps. I know only a little of what’s coming, but I’m OK with this. I know God’s presence will fill tomorrow. I know He will lead the way just as He has today. As the wise man says, “God has made everything beautiful for its own time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT).

Yesterday was beautiful: I remember so many experiences, lessons and moments.

Today is full of beauty, too. As I sit on the back porch this morning to pray, I realise I have so much for which to be thankful: the birds, their singing; the breeze, its freshness; the flowers, their colour; food, its taste; and the sunshine, its warmth. I’m happy because God is alive and I belong to Him. I sense His closeness, and I know love and peace are here, His gifts to me again.

Tomorrow is full of questions, but I know it will be beautiful, too—because God will be there just as He is today.

As the old sage says, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” (Habakkuk 3:17-19, NLT)

 

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This entry was posted on Friday, November 18, 2011 at 8.05 AM and is filed under Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.