A Time for Everything (Ecc 3:1–8)

Life to the Preacher seems frustrating and futile. Although they have been given by God (2:24–26), knowledge, enjoyment, and hard work are unsatisfying. How does this work? In chapter three, King Solomon writes a beautiful passage that contrasts the varied times and seasons of life, appointed and directed by God (3:1).
Life involves both birth and death, times of growth and times of decline (3:2). Times of pain and hurt as well as healing and recuperation are part of life (3:3). Life brings joyful times and sorrowful times (3:4), stages that involve accumulating possessions as well as getting rid of things. There are times of close friendship and times of loneliness (3:5). Gain and loss, saving and spending (3:6), tearing and mending, are all part of life. There are times when it is best to be silent, and there are times when one must speak up (3:7). Life involves periods of friendship and intimacy, as well as times of animosity and personal conflict (3:8). All of these contrasting things are part of life as God has given it to those whom He has created in His image.
Many times you and I are discouraged or disappointed when life doesn’t seem as wonderful as we had hoped or dreamed. Life is not a fairy tale or story book where everybody always lives “happily ever after.” When we encounter difficulties in our daily lives, both small and large, we can get upset, frustrated, confused, or even angry with God.
However, we must remember that everything in our lives (even difficulties and sadness) come from the sovereign hand of our God. Nothing escapes his control and nothing is outside of his goodness. As we read in the New Testament, everything that happens in our lives is for our benefit— it helps make us more like Jesus Christ (Rom 8:28–29).