Every Season of Life Has a Purpose

Current Teaching Series 40 Days of Love

Every Season of Life Has a Purpose By Rick Warren — Aug 1, 2017 “God has made everything beautiful for its own time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11a NLT). Life is full of contrasts. We go through mountains, and we go through valleys. We go through successes, and we go through failures. We have wins, and we have losses. In weather, there are four seasons. But in your life, there are dozens of different seasons. And every season of life includes both good and bad times. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 gives us a representation of different life experiences: “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace” (NLT). Life is a combination of contrasting seasons. All sunshine and no rain make a desert. If you’re following God’s will, if you’re trying to live your life according to the way God wants you to live, then you’ll eventually see that these experiences can have purpose and value in your life. You may think that the only time you’re in God’s will is when you’re at church or having a quiet time. You can be in God’s will as you’re cleaning out a closet. You can be in God’s will as you’re mowing your lawn. You can be in God’s will when you move to a new location or stay right where you are. There’s a time and season for everything.  Ray Stevens sang a song called “Everything Is Beautiful” that included the lyric “Everything is beautiful in its own way.” That’s not exactly true. Everything is not beautiful. Cancer is not beautiful. Child abuse is not beautiful. War is not beautiful. The Bible says it differently in Ecclesiastes 3:11: “God has made everything beautiful for its own time” (NIV). That’s very different from “Everything is beautiful in its own way.” Because the Bible is saying that God can take even the bad things and, in the proper season, turn them around and use them for good in the way he intends. You may be going through a season right now that is not beautiful. Your finances look ugly. Your health looks ugly. Your marriage or a friendship looks ugly. Your future looks ugly. But God can make something good out of it as you trust him with the pieces. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What difficult situation do you need to entrust to God today? How might the world explain the purpose for a difficult season of life? What are some ways you can know if you’re in God’s will?

Our Gift: 40 Days of Love Complete Audio Series Discover what it takes to "be love" to the world! Of all the commands in the Bible, Jesus tells us which is most important: love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. But living out those commands isn't easy – which is why we want to encourage you with Pastor Rick's complete audio series, 40 Days of Love. You'll hear powerful messages from Pastor Rick Warren and others, like… • Love Matters Most • Loving Like Jesus Loves Me • Live Is Not Easily Angered • The Secrets of Lasting Love LEARN MORE

Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes six full length teaching CD's from Pastor Rick's series 40 Days of Love. LEARN MORE

Series Summary Session 1: It's All About Love Session 2: Love Matters Most Session 3: Loving Like Jesus Loves Me Session 4: Love Lets It Go Session 5: Love Is Not Easily Angered Session 6: The Secrets of Lasting Love PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered around the world. This devotional © 2017 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe