To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Everything under heaven has a time to begin and a time to end. A season is an appointed occasion. A time has a before and an after and also a now. Purpose is pleasure, a valuable thing, acceptable. Every appointed occasion has a now when it is acceptable under heaven. The scripture is saying that God appoints seasons. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). There is a time when it is acceptable for you, whom God knew before, to be conformed to the image of His Son while dwelling under heaven.

There is a season appointed for trials. There is a season appointed for you to be taught the way of God. There is a season appointed for you to be glorified. There is a season for you to be humbled and a season to walk in humility. “The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way” (Psalm 25:9). God not only appoints the seasons, but guides us into our seasons, by ordering our steps. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way” (Psalm 37:23). “Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14). The Lord prepares us and moves us according to the heart in us that He foreknew. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain” (James 5:7). But is our waiting a motionless empty season? NO! “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). The noun “waiting” means remaining inactive, but the adverb “waiting” means being ready and willing to be used. The verb “wait” means to be expecting. Wait in the scripture is an action word. How do we get ready? The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way” (Psalm 25:9).

“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 John 2:27). “Abide” means to dwell with, but it also means waiting for with patients. The anointing that dwells in us and teaches us also waits for us with patients. Dwelling does not in itself include peace, but abide includes the peace granted to one that waits (verb) with patients. It is also written, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). There is a time appointed, through foreknowledge, for you to believe and to be taught by the Spirit. But how can you believe what you have not yet heard? “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

© 2008, 2017 Tim D. Coulter Sr.