Our times are in God's hands

“My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.” Psalm 31:15
The word translated ‘times’ here is used nearly 300 times in the Old Testament. In virtually every place it refers to an indeterminate, but specific period or season. It is used to refer to the ‘times’ of the last days; it is used in the famous passage of Eccl. 3 (‘a time to be born and a time to die’ etc.), it is used when speaking of the time of trouble, the time of life, the ‘signs of the times’ (1 Chr. 12:32), etc.
We all go through seasons in life. There are financial seasons, of plenty and of poverty. There are emotional seasons, of happiness and of heartache, of depression and determination. There are seasons when everything is going well for us, and seasons where nothing seems to go our way. There are seasons when we’re busy with all kinds of things, and seasons when we’re sitting on the sidelines. There are seasons when we are healthy and seasons when we are not. There are seasons when we are close to God, and seasons when we feel forgotten by Him.
But through it all, these seasons – or times – of our lives are all in God’s hands. If you think about it, that’s the safest place they can be! When we realise that, we are able to surrender ourselves completely to Him. He knows what tomorrow will bring for us. We don’t need to worry about it – not that worrying about it can change it, or do any good.
And just as the natural seasons – spring, summer, autumn, winter; rainy and dry; hot and cold – don’t last forever, neither do the seasons in our lives. If you’re struggling today in any area, take heart: this is a season, and is only for a time. Things will change. Just stay close to the Lord, and He will bring you through.