9-28-2016

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

“Some days are diamonds some days are stones
Sometimes the hard times won't leave me alone
  Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones
 Some days are diamonds some days are stones.”

This is the chorus to a song by John Denver entitled “Some Days are Diamonds and some Days are Stone.”  It was a song that was more of a lament about the breakup of a relationship between a man and a woman and how the singer suffered from it.  Some days were good but some days weren’t so good.

    For many of us, this doesn’t describe a relationship meltdown; it is our life.  Someone who lives with chronic pain can tell you about this very easily.  Someone who has or deals with someone who has some form of condition like being bipolar or schizophrenic or early forms of dementia can tell you that “he has some good days and some bad days” or “some days are diamonds and some days are stone.”

    This can also occur when we experience some great upheaval in our life as well.  The sudden death of a spouse or a loved one, the loss of a job, a divorce, even a shattered dream can cause us pain.  Some days we can function quite well but some days we just want to stay home, in bed with the lights off and just cry.  Some days are diamonds and some days are stone.  There are god days and bad.  There are wonderful times and horrible times.  The birth of a child or grandchild, a marriage, a job promotion, we often see this as wonderful events “diamond days” you could call them.  Yet we have those other days as well, a health report that ends with “there is nothing more we can do” or a knock on the door and a man in a uniform telling you “I am sorry to tell you that there has been an accident and no one survived…”  or “I’m sorry, I don’t love you anymore.”  These days are definitely “stone days.”

    What we need to remember is that God told us this would happen.  That is what the first part of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes is about.  There is a time for everything under the sun.  There will be times that are very painful for us.  There will be times of brokenness in our lives; so he encourages us to be ready for them; but how?

   We need to know who is in control and that no matter what; our salvation is secure and God’s comfort is always there for us.  We need to know that while God may allow the pain to run deep; it will never run wide.  Our pain will never darken God’s love for us.  Our struggles will never cause God to turn his back on us.  We can focus on God’s love to help ease the pain.  God places a wall on our suffering; we can give thanks that it exists.

Gracious Father, at times I am at my wit’s end.  At times I am broken and downcast.  On the days of stone let me know your love, let me know your mercy and on my days of diamond remind me to sing your loud praises with joy in my heart.  For you are our God and we are your people.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret