This past Sunday in church, the scripture came from the book of Eccleastias. When the verse was read aloud, a portion of it stuck out and kept replaying in my mind.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”
“A time to tear and a time to mend.”
I’m unsure what started my season of tearing. Maybe it was entering my upper twenties. Maybe it was writing my first book. Maybe, it was the process of moving ten hours away from my hometown. Regardless, I feel I am tearing up the things that no longer serve me well. How do I know if something is serving me well? Is it encouraging my relationship with God? Is there an equal amount of effort being made in this relationship? Does this person or situation support my goals? Those are the questions I ask myself.
There was a time when I wanted to hold everything close, good or bad, because I felt I was worth more if I had more.
I am not just talking about materialistic things, but also people, events, and accomplishments; I held them close to my chest, afraid to let go. However, in this season, I have felt a prompt to release.
Release unhealthy relationships, things I don’t need, and destructive habits. The process of tearing can be painful and heartbreaking when we hold on for too long. But it can be freeing when we let go at the right time. King Solomon is telling us that in everything, there is a season. Perhaps one day, I will mend, embrace, and build up. But as for now, I have found comfort in tearing down whatever is not helping me be the person I want to be.
I pictured myself, ten years from now, still dealing with the same problems, issues, and shame, and I could no longer hold on. I want to make decisions now that will build the life I want later, even if that means tearing down now. I would rather look around and have nothing than have everything but my relationship with God.
Is God telling you to let go of something? Some place? Someone? Maybe you are about to enter into a season of tearing. Don’t be afraid, don’t ever lose hope because, as King Solomon says this is just for a time. It is a time in your life that could change your future for the better when you learn to let go of what was and look forward to what will be.