Finding Meaning in Life’s Ups and Downs
Life is full of changes, and sometimes it feels like we’re on a rollercoaster: happy one moment, sad the next; starting new things and letting go of others. The passage “A Time for Everything” from Ecclesiastes reminds us that this is all part of being human.
There’s a Right Time for Everything
Think about how the year has seasons—spring for planting, autumn for harvesting, winter for resting. In the same way, our lives have different seasons. There’s a time to begin, a time to end, and times for everything in between:
· A time to be born and a time to die
· A time to break down and a time to build up
· A time to laugh and a time to cry
· A time to speak out and a time to stay quiet
· A time to hold on and a time to let go
Life isn’t just one thing all the time. Tough times come and go, but so do joyful moments. Knowing this can help us not get stuck in our worries—no feeling lasts forever, good or bad.
We All Have Questions
People often wonder, “What’s the point of all this work? Why do things happen the way they do?” According to the passage, it’s normal to wonder about the bigger picture. We can’t always understand why things happen as they do because only the bigger plan, the one set by God (or fate, or the universe—however you see it), knows how it all fits together.
Enjoy the Present
Since we can’t see the future or understand everything, the best thing we can do is enjoy what we have. Appreciate your meals, enjoy your work, do good, and find happiness in the small things. These simple joys are gifts.
Everything Has Value in Its Own Time
Even when life doesn’t make sense, every season—good or bad—has its own beauty. Sometimes tough moments teach us lessons or help us appreciate the good times even more.
We’re All in This Together
The passage also reminds us that, in the end, everyone shares the same fate. We all come from the same place and return there in the end. This can sound heavy, but it’s also a reason to make the most of the life we have: to treat others kindly, to work hard, and to enjoy what’s around us.
What’s the Takeaway?
Don’t worry if you don’t always have all the answers. Life is a mix of ups and downs, beginnings and endings. Try to enjoy each day, do the best you can, and remember that every experience has its place in the bigger story. That’s what it means to embrace “A Time for Everything.”
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Minister A Francine Green | July 2025
afrancinegreen.com 