“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. “

Ecclesiastes 3:11

As we begin a new year, many of us look back on the blessings and trials of the past year. Reflecting on the past can be beneficial if we look to grow from our experiences. We all have lived through moments of difficulty, moments that we may have thought we’d have “no way out.” Yet, here we are, on the other side of that great difficulty. 

For this trial is but a moment in the context of eternity. 

One day we will reflect on this life as a far away memory. What is 99 years of existence amid thousands of years? 

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 in the New Living translation reads:

“For everything there is a season,

    a time for every activity under heaven.

2 

A time to be born and a time to die.

    A time to plant and a time to harvest.

3 

A time to kill and a time to heal.

    A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

    A time to grieve and a time to dance.

5 

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

6 

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

    A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7 

A time to tear and a time to mend.

    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

8 

A time to love and a time to hate.

    A time for war and a time for peace.” 

Ecclesiates 3:1-8

What time are you experiencing at this time? 

Remember that although you may be going through a time of grief, or sorrow, or pain, we can focus on the hope that is set before us. 

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.”

1 Peter 1:6

Be encouraged by the work that Christ is doing in you, as He brings you closer and closer to God. Choose to give Him your heart, your will, your choices each day of this new year.

Then, you will be able to say as Paul did in Phillipians 3:12-14:

“12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

Philippians 3:12-14