“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”
Ecclesiastes 1:8 (ESV)
It’s 2021. Woohoo! Happy New Year folks. I like everyone else, had looked eagerly to crossing over into this new year. Eager to move on from the strangeness and dashed hopes of 2020. This time last year I was quite ill and was spending my time sleeping, eating and resting; that pretty much set the tone for the first half of the year. I downed tools and rested a lot throughout 2020 (for which I’m grateful), mostly because of my health but also because we were all homebound for a big chunk of that year because of lockdown.
This year though, I was going to do ‘more‘ – because now that I had my health back, I had the whole year ahead of me. I will have more time. Plus, surely life (read: the world) would have gone back to ‘normal’ in other ways as well? And so I will have more time to tick off things on my list instead of homeschooling, etc.
Well it’s a new year but yet again, my time is not my own. England is in lockdown (number 3 for those counting) which means my children’s schools are shut. Online learning is the ‘in thing’. Between home schooling during regular school hours (which runs parallel with my working hours), my work, extracurricular activities for the kids (online), taking care of the family, etc. I very much feel once again like I have no control of my own time.
But when did I ever? This morning as I stood in the kitchen, going through the assignments the teachers have sent for the day and listening to both of my kids’ live lessons, I spent a few minutes debating whether I had time to join today’s FMF link-up. There was a fleeting moment (or five) where I felt sorry for myself that I couldn’t do any of the things that I usually planned for Fridays (my non-office day) e.g. my writing, my business, etc. But then I reminded myself of the lessons learnt last year – not to hold onto my expectations tightly and to let God lead.
Like Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps”.
I’ll also do well to remember Psalm 31:14-15 (ESV), “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand…”
Ultimately, God is in control and He has deemed it fit that my days are spent like this for now.
It brings me great comfort that “my times are in His hand” especially at times like these when my days are governed by school timetables and work schedules. If your days are also currently subject to the whims of others and the effect of the pandemic (or perhaps something else), I hope this comforts you too. God is in control.
This post was originally written for Five Minute Friday but may also be linked up at these places.
(Image credit: Nathan Dumlao from Unsplash)
Join us for the first Five Minute Friday writing link-up of 2021! #Time #FMF Share on X
amen! so grateful our times are in His hands. He holds all things together, even when it looks to be falling apart to our mortal eyes. always encouraged by your words <3
Thank you Mariel. Yes, He does!
Wow, you wrote a lot in 5 minutes.
I pray for continued good health for you!
Amen and thank you.
Thank you for sharing! Time + Expectations vs. Reality seem to be two of the things we can never seem to grasp control over. I share your hope that you are able to do “more” of what you feel called to in 2021.
I quote Proverbs 16.9 at least 4 times each week!!!! #18FMF
I need to do that too, to remind myself Who is really im charge!
Amen and amen. Love this. Time is uncertain; God is not. FMF#28
Oh, Amen! As a mama of two little girls aged 2.5 and 4.5, I completely understand having no control over your time. But God is in control and that does give me comfort, too.
Hi Wemi, I’m in Scotland and in Lockdown too!
Hi Neighbour! 🙂
Amen Wemi, Thank you for sharing such a great post. Happy new year to you too. Blessings.
Visit from FMF#15
Wemi … I loved how you made just a little bit of time to share your heart in the midst of your busy schedule. Praying for you and yours right now as I know that covid is hitting you hard again.
That verse from Psalm 31 is my mom’s favorite. She is in a care facility and I haven’t been able to see her for about 6 weeks. Thanks for taking me there tonight.
Bless you …
I agree, it’s so comforting to remember that God is in control and our times are in his hands.
It can be hard to leave things in His hands.
Oh, Lord, will You not help me?
Lord, what was my crime?
Lord, please show some mercy;
I’m running out of time!
Lord, I fell again today
in trying to reach kitchen chair;
will You not now come my way?
Am I pleading to the air?
Lord, You now I have accepted
cacner as my dying fate,
but it seems now You’ve rejected
my asking that You wait
and give me just a little more
time before You close the door.
Praying for you Andrew as you continue to trust in the Lord
Wemi, it’s interesting the situations and circumstances God uses to remind us that our times are in His hands. Like you, I’ve had to shift my hopes of getting things done and delay some of them. But, He does give us opportunities to do those things that refresh our hearts, even in the difficult times. Thanks for sharing a piece of your heart here! I found myself nodding my head to much of what you shared. May He bless you with many surprising moments in the everyday-ness of lockdown and your shift of priorities. Hugs, friend.
Amen! Thanks Jeanne. He does use some interesting ways to teach us at times doesn’t He?
Thank you for the reminder.