Balancing Seasons

As we pause and reflect on another 12 months gone by, we’re often quick to aim for greater balance in all areas during the new year. Author and pastor Andy Stanley suggests that we aim to find a rhythm in the changing seasons of life. Instead of trying to carve out equal amounts of time for each activity in order to attain and maintain a balanced lifestyle, there are seasons which require us to work longer or shorter hours, spend less or exercise more, cut out or add certain foods to our diet, and so on.

King Solomon looked back at his life of excess and was disappointed by how meaningless all of it was. “‘Everything is meaningless,’ says the Teacher, ‘completely meaningless!’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). He acknowledged, however, that God does ultimately bring beauty out of the rhythm of the changing seasons of life (Ecclesiastes 3:11), writing: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Contentment comes when we ease into a new rhythm in the midst of change. For instance, the birth of a child or the death of a loved one; the start of something new and the time it takes to grow and bear fruit (Ecclesiastes 3:2); the moment we decide to put to death the one thing that’s been sapping our strength, and the day we choose to say we’re sorry and work toward healing (Ecclesiastes 3:3); the times that we tear down or build up, cry or laugh, grieve or dance, scatter or gather, embrace or turn away, search or quit searching, keep or throw away, tear or mend, be quiet or speak up, love or hate, make war or bring peace (Ecclesiastes 3:4-8).

In all things, at all times, finding a rhythm based in God’s leading is surely far more satisfying than striving for the perfect balance.

Taken from “Our Daily Journey”