Please Note

This text was published first on 15 April, 2021. It can therefore contain information or views that is inaccurate. It is online for archival purposes.

Immanuel: God is with us

I will often take my bike out to Kaknäsparken to play a few rounds of disc golf. This last week I had a wonderful bike ride out to the park. The sun was shining on my face and the wind was at my back; this made it easy to pedal and I was cruising! After a few fun rounds of disc golf I packed up my stuff and started heading back to town. Now, I have to tell you that biking back into the city was a different experience. I no longer had the wind at my back… the sun was at my back and instead of warmth I felt the blasting wind blowing straight in my face. It was not so pleasant. In fact it was a slow, upwind, struggle peddling my single speed city bike all the way back to church. 

Isn’t that life sometimes… Sometimes you’re just enjoying life, the warmth of the sun, as you coast down the road with the wind at your back… and then the wind changes directions and blows heavy and hard. In an instant life changes and the struggles begin. This experience on my bike made me think of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

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 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.

There are many different experiences we can have in life under the heavens. Times of easy bike rides and times when it’s really hard to pedal! Which season of life do you relate to in this text? As I reflected and meditated on this text I realised something about my biking experience: The wind was always there with me. When it was smooth sailing and the sun was shining, the wind was with me. When it was difficult to peddle the wind was still there with me. The good news that I want to encourage us with today is this: God is with us in every time and every season under heaven. The Good Shepherd leads his sheep by the quiet waters. That same Good Shepherd is the one walking with His sheep through the valley of Death. Emmanuel: God is with us. May this truth strengthen and encourage us as we continue on our journeys in every season in our lives. 

Peace,
Pastor Pete