Devotional

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” —Ecclesiastes 3:1 

 Summertime! The longest days of the year…early sunrises and late sunsets. 

 Summer is the season of school breaks, ice cream cones, swimming pools, and beach getaways—surf, sand, and sun. It is the perfect season in which to pause and contemplate God’s goodness.  

 Rest is important.  

 God Himself rested after six days of assembling the universe. Knowing rest was important for the people He created, God instituted the Sabbath, that we might understand no one can work nonstop, without a break along the way.  

 Even Jesus, with more sermons to preach, more people to heal, and more of His Father’s will to accomplish, often sought a solitary place to rest and reflect a while. 

 The writer of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon—recognized as one of history’s most successful and wise figures—concluded “That each may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:13). 

 There is always more work that needs to be done. How much needs to be done right now? It may be more important, and indeed a gift from God, to sit back with a tall glass of iced tea and contemplate the beauty of nature and the greatness of our God, who is faithful to us in all seasons. As the hymn says: 

 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. 

 Carve out a little time this summertime and refresh your heart and spirit with blessedness instead of busyness. 

 My prayer for this week: 

Father, responsibilities call. I could easily make a long list of reasons not to pause. Thank you for the reminder of this rich verse—there is a season for everything, a time for work and a time for rest. Please help me seize an opportunity to slow my world down, to rest and reflect and find satisfaction in my labors, that I might return refreshed to the work at hand.