Trusting God in the Time We Are Given

Trusting God in the Time We Are Given
Scripture Readings:

• Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 – "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"
  
• Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 – "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
  
• John 12:27-36 – "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour."​
  

Lent is a season of deep reckoning. It calls us to enter fully into the suffering of our time with humility, courage, and vision. The Scriptures remind us that there is a time for everything—a time to weep and a time to rejoice, a time to break down and a time to build up. Jesus himself, facing the cross, acknowledges that his soul is troubled, yet he does not seek escape. Instead, he entrusts himself to the Father’s purposes.
Psalm 91 assures us that, even in suffering, we dwell under the shadow of the Almighty. This does not mean we are spared from hardship but that we are held securely within God’s presence. In times of trial, we are called to trust—not in our own strength, but in the One who is our refuge.
Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that every moment is held within God's providence. When we witness suffering in the world—whether through injustice, grief, or uncertainty—we may be tempted to despair or retreat. But faith calls us to inhabit this time fully, with both courage and humility. We do not choose the season we are given, but we choose how to live within it.
Jesus, in John 12, does not shrink from his moment of suffering. He embraces it, knowing that through the darkness, light will break forth. The cross is not just suffering—it is also the seed of something new. Likewise, our present struggles—whether personal or communal—can be places where God’s transforming work takes root.
A Call to Faithfulness:Living into suffering with humility means acknowledging our limitations and our need for grace. Living with courage means refusing to let fear dictate our actions. Living with vision means holding onto the hope that God is working even now, even here.
Trusting God with our future does not mean passivity. It means discerning how to respond to the time we are in. Is this a time for mourning or for action? For speaking out or for silent prayer? For perseverance or for letting go? The wisdom of faith is knowing when to embrace each season as it comes.
Prayer:God of all seasons, You have placed us in this time, in this place, for a purpose. When we are troubled, be our refuge. When we are fearful, be our courage. When we are uncertain, be our vision. Teach us to trust You—not only with our past and present but with the future we cannot see. Help us to live faithfully in this moment, knowing that You hold all things in Your hands.
Through Christ, who walked willingly into the darkness to bring forth light. Amen.
Lenten Practice:

• Reflect each day on what season you are in spiritually. Ask: What is God calling me to embrace in this time?
  
• Choose one act of trust—whether speaking courageously, letting go of control, or stepping into an unknown future—and commit to it this week.
  
• Pray for those who are in their own season of suffering, that they too may find refuge in God’s presence.
  

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)