by Laura Enslen

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

 

The time I have been given in my life has taken new direction since August 22, 2018. Prior to that day and for the past 10 years, I’ve had at least one little child (often three) in need of my constant care and support. On that warm summer day though, I watched my baby boy bravely board a school bus for his first day of Kindergarten and my time shifted. I went home to a VERY quiet home and spent the next few weeks crying a bit (ok maybe daily for a week or so!), learning a new routine, and leaning on my heavenly Father for help in my new routine.

 

Sometimes our season shifts. Sometimes we make the shift (starting a new job or leaving one, a new home, marriage, starting a family, retirement) and sometimes the season is shifted for us (a loss of a loved one, an opportunity lost that we were counting on, a friendship strained, or babies growing up too fast). In these shifts, I believe our God is right there with us, and has so much for us to hear when we stop and listen. After all, he put this all into motion in the first place.

 

Genesis 1:14-15 “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times and days and years and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so.”

God spoke, and time was created. It marked days and years on earth from that point on. This time in my life was being marked, and I wanted to know what God had to say about it.

 

Surprisingly, though the only word I heard was “no.” “No”??? Lord, that can’t be right! “No.” Ok, I heard…now what does that mean for me? I shared with my best friend (luckily also my hubby), and he immediately agreed. Yes…I said immediately. What?!? I have MORE time on my hands now right? (ok yes I know all you mamas who have been through this before are now laughing at me! Three kids in school, work and everything you still always did? No…probably less time! Bless my sweet September heart. I’ve grown since then you will be pleased to know!) ​

 

“No.” And as Mike and I unpacked that a bit together, we felt him calling us to all the great “YESes” we had already given. Was the Lord really saying “no” because time for the “yeses” we were already doing was that important?

 

Well, I went to one of my most trusted mentors (lucky again…also my mama!) and she AGREED! Ok Lord, I’m listening…

 

“And age to age He stands. And time is in His hands. Beginning and the end. Beginning and the end.”

 

How Great is Our God. He created it, he ordained it and he controls time: our days, hours and minutes. And I will use it to worship Him. Not just on Sundays in song. This is every day worship to our creator. Giving Him the say in how I use my time.

 

“No.” This was going to be hard. Because even when I committed to working hard at the “yes” I’ve already committed to, and saying “no” when something new was offered for the coming school year, I hadn’t actually had to say “no” yet. So many things that I’m offered, invited to, or asked to do, I want to do! But each time now, I was placing it at His feet to give him the final decision.

So does this mean I’ll never say “yes” to anything new again? Nope, already have said some yeses. Has saying “no” to things I love been hard? Oh yes!

 

But God has honored it, and paved the way in those hard moments. In a day and age where distractions are abundant, this has taken discipline. I do not get it right even half of the time. I’m thankful for mercies that are new every morning. And I’m excited for the future, walking with Him, and laying my time at His feet.

 

Dear Lord, I pray you will help me to give you my time. Each minute, hour and day you have ordained, and I want to use it to honor you. Please give me clarity in each decision, fellow believers to help me along the way, and your words from scripture to direct me. Thank you for your grace, mercy, and love. Amen.