Mark spoke this morning about the book of times and seasons which God has for each one of us. Each season is different and has something lovely in it; the ongoing reliability of the seasons is testimony to God’s faithfulness (Gen 8:22) God not only controls the seasons but rulers (see Dan 2:21) and Ps 31:14-15 reminds us that our times are also in God’s hands. God controls nature and kingdoms, but is also heavily involved in individual lives, reminding us in Eccl 3:1-15 that there are different times for everythng. There is both variety and security in God; we are not meant to relive the same experiences endlessly (as in the film Groundhog Day!) but have to be prepared to move on as God leads us.

Ps 139:16 reminds us that ‘all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.’ God’s plan for our lives was present even before we were born (as Jer 1:5 makes clear) and we live in the time and place chosen for us by God (see Acts 17:26-28). Sometimes we have to wait for God’s timing (see Hab 2:2-3), because God’s plans are not always clear to us (‘the revelation awaits an appointed time.‘) Nonetheless, we are called to trust God and listen to Him as He calls us to new things. God has a lifetime of blessing and adventure for us all and His plans are to prosper us (Jer 29:11). We are called to seek God and obey Him in every season of our lives.