Daily Devotions

Fjeldberg – Devotion for August 06, 2024

READ (Ecclesiastes 3:4-8) A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

REFLECT I am finding myself in a season of life with contrasting emotions…new babies being born in the family and failing health of a loved one…cherishing precious memories and needing to downsize…grieving the loss of a friend and enjoying coffee & connecting with another friend. Perhaps you can relate, too. But I am reminded in this Bible text that these contrasting times are connected with “And” not “Or”! Read this text again inserting OR instead of and – it gives you a very different perspective. OR separates and traps. AND connects our hardest times and the best of times. AND gives us perspective to live and learn – we are changed because of these times, and it offers a way forward.

PRAY: Gracious and caring God, I am thankful that you are a God of “ands” and hope. It is so reassuring that you are already there in all seasons of life to do amazing things for us and through us. Amen.

Devotions by Marita R