A Time For Everything
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (NIV)
The four seasons play a vital part in life, especially in weather and plant growth, but the concept of seasons also play a vital role in understanding our purpose as women.
In today’s culture, many women strive to be all and all and aim for perfection over purpose. Social media can cause us to question our purpose in God’s plan if we read too much into the posts of others. When our friends post pictures of their happy families, children’s achievements, beautifully decorated, uncluttered homes, and cute puppies, we can’t help but compare our life to theirs. And the issue is magnified if we fail to understand the seasons in our life.
If we compare our life to others who are in a different season, we may think of ourselves as failures, resulting in feelings of guilt. The seasons I am referring to are the stages in our life. Women in their twenties and thirties are not expected to have accomplished the things women in their fifties and sixties have. Nor are they expected to think with the same maturity.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll address the four seasons of a woman’s life to help us better understand our purpose in God’s plan. Our husbands have seasons also and we should keep this in mind if we are compelled to compare them to men in a different season than theirs. But for now, we have enough to worry about with our own seasons.
I want to preface this series by saying that it is all about priorities. When our priorities line up with God’s design, our life is beautifully blessed! Not perfect…but blessed. If your life is full of stress, guilt, bitterness, or even jealousy, it may be your priorities are out of sync with God’s plan. In fact, I know they are because if they were in sync, you would not be experiencing those emotions. I am sharing with you what I wish someone shared with me when I was younger. I may not have listened, but I wish I understood the principle.
As women, our priority is: God first, husband second, children third. If you keep to that order, you will fulfill God’s purpose. But there is a caveat…
Putting God first in your priorities has nothing to do with church service. It has to do with growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Learn His principles and apply them to your life and teach them to your children. Church service is a result of our spiritual maturity and gift... not because someone asked us to serve. Satan loves to pull us away from our godly priorities of family by guilting us to serve at church, when in fact, God called us to serve Him by being godly wives and mothers…first. I’m not saying not to serve at church. Just don’t make it a priority over our family. God is NOT pleased when we make serving at church more important than our husband and children. Becoming stressed when we serve at church, is the red flag warning that we are out of sync. Often, we women use church service to validate us, and hide behind our service as a pious means to please God…our way! Please don’t fall for this trap.
Next week I’ll address young wives and young mothers. Even if you are not one, you will want to understand this principles God has for them, so that you too, can teach the younger women to love their husbands and children (Titus 2:4).
In the meantime, evaluate your priorities before we get to your specific season by honestly asking yourself if you are making your husband and children a priority. Children in this list of priorities do not refer to adult children. We will address their priority at the end. But think about what causes you stress and anxiety. Be honest, make a list, and take it to God in prayer. Ask Him if you are in sync with His plan, then wait on Him and listen for the answer.
I will leave you with this…please don’t fret thinking I’m going to tell you all the things you must do and how you must sacrifice for your husband and children. That’s NOT what this is about. You are wonderfully created by God with a unique personality and talents that when used correctly and in sync with His purpose, will make you shine and give you the validation, significance, and purpose that can only be found in glorifying God!
