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As we enter the Holiday Season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, so many emotions, memories and traditions can flood our hearts and minds. After all, "It is the most wonderful time of the year!"
For many people, this is the one time of the year we reach out to those we know and love, such as by asking "what am I thankful for?" during the Thanksgiving meal; the legendary "Christmas" letter or family Christmas photos.
There seems to be a familiar thread of thought as we share the updates in our lives with similar words "how did this happen?" or "how did I get here?"
It used to be that you would only hear this from older generations. But now we hear it from all ages, especially younger people as they notice the aging process in themselves and other family members. My own mind embraces these same thoughts and feelings as I head for 79 and examine my life in the "final home stretch" and I ask "how did I get this far?"
As we search for answers, let's look at King Solomon of Israel who "loved the Lord." (1 Kings 3:3)
God asked him in a dream, "what can I give you?" Solomon asks for "wisdom and knowledge to govern."
God replies because Solomon did not ask for things for himself, He will give him not only as he has asked but also riches and a long life. This works well for Solomon. People come from all over the world to seek his answers. He becomes very wealthy, successful and powerful by the world's standards.
But then we find an older Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. His focus has split from totally relying on God to include the things and worship of the world.
Solomon is looking back on his life trying to understand the meaning and purpose of it. We read the famous words in 1:2 "...Vanity, Vanity. All is vanity" meaning life is a "breath." It is short compared to eternity. 1:4 "A generation goes, and a generation comes."
Wait! I know this sounds negative and even depressing but the best is coming!
Solomon is full of regrets. He has had it all. He did whatever he desired or wanted. He denied himself nothing the world has to offer but it cost him his relationship with God.
In his search, Solomon realizes God has a plan and purpose for your life. Many times, life is like a roller-coaster ride with ups and downs and twists and turns. The Bible calls them seasons. It is good to remind ourselves as Solomon wrote in the beginning of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 "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..."
Basically, every part of your life has a specific reason whether happy and pleasant or hurtful and hard. But there is purpose for all we go through.
Ecclesiastes 3:11a "He has made everything beautiful in its time." We do not know all, we do not understand all but God does. And in 3:11b "also he has put eternity into man's mind." There is more than our life, this breath we experience on earth. We are created in God's image. He has put in each of us the desire to know Him, be like Him. One major gift God has given us is "choice." We have the free will to choose God's ways or our own. This Solomon learned full well. Our choices matter.
The best is in the end of Ecclesiastes in chapter 12, Solomon comes to his final conclusion and advice. 12:1, "Remember your Creator..."
Look to God for your answers, your strength, your hope. 12:13, "...Fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man..."
Solomon has come to realize there is nothing more important than to know God. Fearing God is not the "scary" fear but the fear of God is to have reverence for Him, to be in awe of Him because He is awesome! Love Him by receiving His love. And nothing is more important than to live in God's will by following His teachings and guidelines for life.
Whatever season God may be guiding you to, changing seasons can be difficult to know where to start. As Solomon found out, it is never too late. There are several suggestions I have found to help embrace changing seasons or how to live in the season I am in now.
Start with 1 Thessalonian 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." How does this happen? It begins by focusing on Jesus by accepting His gift of salvation and putting Him first in your life. Rely on the Holy Spirit to imitate Christ in your thoughts, words and actions. You may ask, "How do I "rejoice always?"
I like to use the acronym "JOY (Jesus, others, you)." Is it easy? Hardly. It can really be difficult especially when I try to spell Joy as "you, others, Jesus."
As Solomon shares with us, "me first" does not work. But when you follow the directions of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Joy of the Lord becomes your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) to deal with each day of your season.
Many of the seasons of life are tough, challenging and even painful. I do not claim to have all the answers but this is where we use prayer. We have a God who loves us so much. We are never alone. He is always with us. He wants a relationship with us. He has given us the amazing gift of being able to connect with Him in conversation whether thanksgiving and praise or by pouring our hearts out to Him through prayer.
Notice our verse says to pray constantly. There isn't anything in our lives that we cannot bring to Him.
Lastly, we are "to give thanks in all circumstances." So, you may ask, "What? I am already always being joyful. Now I have to be thankful as well?" Yes!
Why? Because the verse explains, "This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
God is all powerful and all-knowing. Through Jesus, God wants the best for us. To follow His will is to trust Him in every way.
Romans 8:28 "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." When we love God with grateful hearts, we want to trust Him. The way to trust Him is to thank Him for everything and everyone in your life. Ouch! That's not always easy. But remember we are relying on the Holy Spirit and not on ourselves to give thanks even when we do not feel like it.
As words of encouragement, remember Hebrews 12:1-2 for the seasons of life, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that is set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Whatever season you may be in at this point in your life, give your life to Jesus, everyday put God first, turn to the Word of God. Spend time in prayer. Trust God. Follow His will. Live by His commandments. Always be kind to all. Embrace each day with the Joy of Jesus in Christmas and the gratitude of Thanksgiving to God.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from retired Pastor Janis Heiser.