As you read the following scripture, think about it in the context of your life…
“To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NKJV)
This scripture has become reality to me over the past four months. There really IS a season for every single thing. Before the Thanksgiving holiday we moved out of our home of eleven years. It was the house we brought our youngest two babies home from the hospital to. At the time we moved in we had just two children; our two oldest girls, Molly and Sydney were three and six years old. What a rollercoaster of emotion it was to sell and move! The day we said goodbye to our house I felt as though my heart was being ripped out of my chest, I wasn’t prepared for the raw emotion that came. I wasn’t ready to let that season become a memory. But yet there was a season, a time set a part for me to walk through that transition. Then the holidays were upon us and everything felt so strange and out of sorts for me. I was in a different house and things were just…well, different. I was adjusting to a new season and it was uncomfortable and new.
Last night I placed an order for Molly’s (our firstborn) cap & gown for her high school graduation. Yet again, my heart ached. I mean, I’m so proud of her and seeing her become the incredible young woman that she is has been one of the most humbling joys of my motherhood journey. I guess I just don’t want to think of this season as coming to a close. But things ARE changing, the season of yesterday is over and I’m not so sure I want the new season.
Did I do everything I could have done in the last season? Did I miss opportunities?
Do I have regrets? Sure I do.
But did I grow? Sure I did.
Am I transformed from where I began? Sure I am.
Sometimes I’m convinced we aren’t sure what we want. We yearn for the new season, the hope of new beginnings and the beautiful surrender of the unknown but still desire the comfortable ease of what is familiar. But thing is, to enter that new place we must exit the current season. We can set ourselves up to believe a lie that has circulated in our Christian circles for decades and that being when a season is sent from the Lord it’s seamless and something that flows without pain or apprehension. But actually, speaking as someone that has walked many final curtain calls of previous seasons, I think a more accurate description of “season” would be growth.
Growth can be exhilarating. Standing on the edge of what could be. But let’s be honest, growth is mostly a whole lot of hard work. And the reward for that hard work? Another new season. The Lord takes us into a place where we have another opportunity to partner with Him for upgrade in our lives. That upgrade doesn’t come without lessons, pain and breakthrough. But our new wineskin must expand and be stretched to house the new wine. And once again, there we are, a brand new trail of growth being pioneered in our life.
I’ve been challenged these past few days to change my outlook on His seasons. I’m choosing to see the exiting season as one I’m full of gratitude for, even the places where the growth felt as though it was killing me. Even the areas where I fell short. When the difficult seasons end, what if we didn’t have the ‘I can’t get out of this season fast enough’ attitude, but instead we recalled the lessons learned, battles won, and ground taken?
Let’s remember, all of what happened back there was a prerequisite to our new season.
My prayer is that you will embrace your current season and respond to it in freedom and love. Because you are His, you don’t have to fear the unfamiliar, your life overflows with courage and thankfulness for what has been and for what is to come. Lean in and respond.
SHERRI COLVIN 
13 responses to “What Time Is It?”
It’s 3:57 am and I’m sitting here weeping silently. Thank you for such a beautiful article. I am 58 years old and I feel as though I’ve been in drought for such a long time. There has been so much pain throughout my life time, I know I’ve failed to embrace the lesson or growth. There has been good, and there has been bad, and foolishly I’ve screamed to be free. Regardless, I reached for God. Even when I felt He was nowhere to be found I called for Him. He has truly been the lifter of my head. In this winter season, I experience, lost, gain, rejection, betrayal, abuse, neglect, depression, and believe it or not some growth. My happiest time ever in this season, was 38 years ago, when my son (Tyson) was born. I felt God had finally answered my prayers and given me someone that would love me relentless without judgement or cruelty. Then my baby/friend grew up moved out, went to college, got married and started his own family. I cried through this season and reluctantly had to let go. I think I was supposed to learn the beautiful lesson of letting go. Instead of focusing on my growth, I focused on the pain of losing and held on until my hands grew weak. Then came my first grandson (Anthony). I shifted from Tyson to him, repeating the same things repeatedly with Anthony and the other 3 grand babies following. Now, I’m here looking back over my life with my hands down. Not in defeat but in surrender and truly letting go. Through the loss of my brother recently, tore my being with something I can’t explain. I don’t know if it’s coming in to reality that life is moving on as well as my age or finally realizing that God is, I Am. In this pinnacle of whatever season I am in, God is uncovering Barbara. This is the Barbara I chose to cover up so no one could see the real me. I didn’t want anyone to see the bad or ugly. God is not exposing me, but He is teaching me that it’s okay, I don’t have to be afraid of being myself. I can let go now, because all is His, even me. I don’t have to be afraid to experience love, joy, pain, or grief. I can embrace them all, but let go of them also. I’m learning to turn my life over totally to Him. I’m not afraid, just tired. Although I can’t see clearly what will happen from day to day, minute to minute, second to second, I’m not bothered, because I know there’s a light in front of me and I’m following that light as closely as I can. Really surrendering, and letting go has been a hard thing for me to get, but God. I’m at the point in my life now, I have no IDEA. Barbara Kimber
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What a touching piece of writing. I sit here tearing up in thankfulness to the Lord for taking me through each season of life. And seeing how in each season HE has sprinkled a little of heaven in each one. That is what is so difficult to let go of as the season ends, is the heaven sent gifts from God.
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Thank you for sharing! The question of when to release and when to draw close is something we all can relate to…and one we couldn’t do without total reliance on Him. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you for your vulnerability and honesty. We can all see ourselves in bits and pieces of your seasons, we can identify. We are all on the journey of releasing and embracing this life — it’s only by the grace of God that we can do either. Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
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Thank you for your vulnerability and honesty. We can all see ourselves in bits and pieces of your seasons, we can identify. We are all on the journey of releasing and embracing this life — it’s only by the grace of God that we can do either. Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
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Sherri..This is so incredibly right! What a Blessing! Thank you for sharing these beautiful thoughts! They are so true to each of us who read them! You have such a creative gifting of expression that blesses everyone! THANK YOU! Love you and APPRECIATE YOU!!!
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Oh wow, thank you for your encouragement and love!
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Another good and timely Word Sherri! I find myself on the precipice of so many changes and unknowns. Looking backward and forward with joy and sadness, anticipation and hesitancy. Thanks for the encouragement!
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Thank you, Tobie! So many of us are in similar places…it’s great to hear from you!
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Nice to see someone being real for a change.
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Thanks for reading and for the feedback, Tony!
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Wow. You have written an amazing testimony of what life is. So thankful I have been able to read this blog. I know how it feels like to step into a new season without expecting my past one to have been a memory. God does this so we can grow I know. We are being changed, transformed, and the seasons of life help is do that 😊 Thanks Sherri for your beautiful work. Keep writing for His Glory. God bless 😊
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You are so right! Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing your thoughts and encouragement. Many, Many blessings
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