Morning Devotional 081025 Is it Time to Say Goodbye?

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

August 10, 2025

Eclesiastes 3:1-8

1 There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens: 2 a time for giving birth and a time for dying, a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted, 3 a time for killing and a time for healing, a time for tearing down and a time for building up, 4 a time for crying and a time for laughing, a time for mourning and a time for dancing, 5 a time for throwing stones and a time for gathering stones, a time for embracing and a time for avoiding embraces, 6 a time for searching and a time for losing, a time for keeping and a time for throwing away, 7 a time for tearing and a time for repairing, a time for keeping silent and a time for speaking, 8 a time for loving and a time for hating, a time for war and a time for peace.

Good Morning! Happy Lord’s Day!

As I read this often-read passage this morning, an interesting thought popped into my head. We talk about entering a new season of our lives. For example, we enter a new season when we transition from being a child to becoming an adult. How do we say goodbye as we prepare to exit a season? 

If we look at the literal meaning, even something as basic as it being the time for uprooting what was planted can cause hurt. After all the time we invest in planting seeds and nurturing the plant, it can be hard to admit that it is time to pull it up. 

Teenagers race toward adulthood in anticipation of the freedom that they perceive awaits them. Little do they know that as children, you are free from many of the trappings that accompany adulthood, like having a job, paying bills, and having responsibilities for everything. Only years later do we often grieve over those days when we could wander around without the never-ending to-do list calling us back to adulting. 

What about a time for keeping silent, and a time for speaking? When we see injustice in the world around us, we might be afraid to speak out because of the scrutiny that might follow from others, including our friends. At what point are we compelled to throw caution to the wind and speak up for what is right? It is hard to cast aside our fears and step up to support the least of God’s children. 

When we extend these ideals to our walks of faith, we have new considerations. God sets us apart to be the face of Christ for the world. This is easy to do within the safe confines of our church walls and gatherings, but what about standing for your Christian values when you are in a crowd of strangers? Before acting as you know you should or must, do you look around, waiting for someone else to take the lead for the charge of justice?  

Which season of life are you in or approaching? Did you let go of the season you left?

Giving Lord, you bless us abundantly! Help us when we struggle to stand up for ourselves and others. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: Changes can bring unexpected blessings.

Seasons to say Hello! Seasons to say Goodbye! Pastor Liz