Who of us remembers that song, “Turn Turn, Turn” with music by the Byrds and lyrics by King Solomon? I certainly listened to, and even memorized, it many years ago, when I was a child growing up in Iowa. If you want to hear it again, this is the link. From Ecclesiastes 3,
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up 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 together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast 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 for war, and a time for peace.
Just recently, I’ve been helping my mother close her home and move in with us. A week ago, my husband helped me to clear out files from my time teaching at GMU and NVCC. Several years ago, we all faced a major change: COVID-19.
So, how are we to keep going, knowing things do and will change? Again, I would refer us to the Bible. Jesus knows that we do and will face difficult and changing times. He tells us not to be anxious (Mt 6:25-34), but He knows we will be. After all, “Do not be afraid,” or some version thereof is frequently repeated throughout Scripture. Oh, if only I could stop being scared by psyching myself into it!
Again, the Bible has some very practical instructions. If you don’t read it daily, I suggest that you start. It helps.
First, remember that God knows what is happening, and He loves you. “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” That means this life is not all there is—we will one day join Him in Heaven.
Second, take it one day at a time. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Don’t worry about what will happen next week or next month. You can’t fix it, anyway. So, focus on getting through today.
Third, give Him your worries. I’ve found that Phil 4:6-7 can be used like an anxiety pill, each time I get nervous. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When I tell God about all that makes me nervous, every time it does, and remember all the wonderful blessings that my life is full of, His supernatural peace guards my heart and my mind.
Finally, again, remember—this season will pass.