In Times Past

“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.” —Psalms 9:9-10.    

In this week’s movie, About Time, Tim uses his ability to go back in time to make his present life better. If you could travel through time, where would you go? It opens up a unlimited number of possibilities. Can you imagine going back to the beginning and watching creation? That would be amazing. Or watching Jesus walk on water or witnessing the resurrection. I would also go back to see what Jesus wrote in the dirt in John 8:6. But we can’t go back. We are locked into the present.

That present is both fleeting and controlled by God. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived in the book of Ecclesiastes described time this way.He said, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.” 

God knows all about our time and our seasons of life. He knows all about our experiences. He knows all about reality. He knows that we don’t always “get it right.” Our timing is off at times. We sow when we should reap. We hold grudges when we should forgive. We speak when we should be silent. But God knows. God knows when its time for us to be born and He knows when its time for us to die. God knows when we need to cry and when we need to laugh. God knows when we need to mourn and when we need to dance. God knows when we need to be silent and when we need to speak. God knows everything. He also knows why everything happens. And He has created a heaven, a place untainted by our missed timings and our lost opportunities. C.S. Lewis said, “Our Heavenly Father has provided many delightful inns for us along our journey, but he takes great care to see that we do not mistake any of them for home.” 

I believe God makes life beautiful in His time. Those who live a surrendered life according to God’s time and schedule will ultimately lead a more fulfilling life.

Discussion Questions:

1. If you could go back in time, what would you change?
2. Does the fact that time is fleeting impact the way you live?
3. Do you feel that God’s and your timing is off at times? How do you know? What can you do about it?
4. What can we do to better walk with God in this season of our life?