Times and Seasons!

Times and Seasons!

Psalm 77:11-12 KJV

[11] I will remember the works of the LORD: Surely I will remember thy wonders of old. [12] I will meditate also of all thy work, And talk of thy doings.

There will be times and seasons in our lives when it will appear that God is distant. I use the word 'appear' to make it clear that God is never distant. Life's pressure and demands may place a burden on you, but God never leaves His place. The words of the verses above were written down by a songwriter named Asaph. There came a time in his life that he had reasons to cry out to God out of his distress and pain. He said that 'in the day of his trouble, he sought the Lord. Let no man deceive you into thinking that once you give your life to Christ, everything just works out fine automatically. That is a lie of the devil. Well, you do get some things sorted out, like the struggle against sin becomes easier as you now have divine help. 

The things that appeared to be impossible now become possible, by the help of the One who now lives inside you. However, the devil will also not take defeat lying down. He has been fighting dirty since the story of creation, and he will continue to do so until the end of time, when he will be judged. Until that time, we have help from God to manage the times and seasons we find ourselves in. Asaph must have been in some distress, because he also said that his sore ran in the night, and ceased not, and his soul refused to be comforted. This pain would have come from a long season of inconvenience and some level of discomfort. Do the above details look like your current experience? Is there so much pain that it looks permanent? The lessons in the verses above are for such times like these. 

Asaph had a terrible present, but he took a good look at the past and found comfort and hope for the present and the future. See how many times he made reference to events of the past. He had seen God at work too many times for the present discomfort to distract him. He remembered the works of the Lord and His wonders of old. He reflected on all that God had done in the past, and he was sure the future was secure. He took time to meditate on all of God's works, and was quick to speak about Him to other people. When trouble comes, what is your default setting? What flows out of you: complaints or praise? Like Asaph, take time to reflect on all of God's dealings with you, and see Him do mighty things in your life. God's time of favour is here.