Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 MSG
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up.
The old saying goes: “Timing is everything.” That is especially true when we consider being obedient to God and His timing. Realizing and accepting when we should let go of holding onto something from our past can be so difficult for us on so many levels. But yet letting go is such a right and natural part of life. Navigating seasons in life, we cannot grab hold of the future until we let go of the past.
We cannot die until we are born. We cannot harvest with planting. We cannot tear down that which we never built. We cannot turn away from something we never embraced.
Sometimes letting go can make us feel less-than or create the false assumption that we are giving away a part of our heart we may never get back. But think of it this way: we cannot harvest, heal, mend, or dance while holding onto unhealthy things in our lives.
Is God calling you to heal but you can’t because you’re still allowing bitterness to hurt your spirit? Is it time for you to experience a final letting go and forgive someone?
Listen again to a personalized version of Ecclesiastes 3:1-7:
A right time [for me] for birth and another for death,
A right time [for me] to plant and another to reap,
A right time [for me] to destroy and another to construct,
A right time [for me] to cry and another to laugh,
A right time [for me] to lament and another to cheer,
A right time [for me] to embrace and another to part,
A right time [for me] to search and another to count your losses,
A right time [for me] to hold on and another to let go,
A right time [for me] to rip out and another to mend,
A right time [for me] to shut up and another to speak up,
Let today be your day to let go, to forgive, to be born, harvest, heal, build up, laugh, dance, gather, embrace, mend, and speak new life.
Let’s pray: “Father, thank You for Your timing. That You give us seasons of change. That You allow us to experience freedom from the past, hurts, and harm that we have done and experienced from others. Please grant me the freedom today to forgive and let go. As above, so below.”