Armed and Virtuous Southeast Texas Abstinence Ministry “Enjoy the Season”

East Texas Teen Ministries

“Enjoy the Season” a Message of Abstinence

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace (NKJV).

Have you ever looked forward to a special event in the future, such as Christmas morning, a birthday, or a special trip? Most of us become filled with anticipation, wondering how it will exactly unfold, and expecting an exciting experience. Especially as a child, I always looked forward to the next age I was approaching, not just the birthday itself, but it always seemed like being older would make life a little better, somehow. On that long-anticipated day, I was always asked, “What’s it like to be . . .(8,9,10 . . . 16)?” My response was always: “It feels the same,” and there was always a little disappointment in that fact.

How often do we look at our current life situation and wish for something more? Besides just wanting to be older, there have been many “seasons” in my life during which I became dissatisfied. I looked ahead to the next season thinking: “If only I was there, life would be so much better!” A few of my personal examples include: feeling “dateless” as a youth, being in college, dating the man of my dreams, but wishing we were engaged, becoming engaged, but not married, married, but no children, the list goes on and on.

Time after time, when I’ve reached this point of dissatisfaction, God has spoken a word to me. I’ve heard it so many times now, that I laugh to myself when He repeats it: This time of your life is unique. It won’t last forever. There are special experiences you can only have during this stage of life, and I have lessons to teach you now, that you cannot learn later. For every perceived advantage in a certain phase of life, there are down sides as well. On the flip side, for every drawback in your current season, there are also advantages!

This verse in Ecclesiastes might sound like it’s describing opportune times in life for various activities to occur, but it’s not. Instead, it declares that God controls time and seasons, not just seasons of the earth, but of our personal lives as well. There is a time for every purpose under heaven. God alone knows when you’re ready to progress from one stage to the next. Only He knows the experiences He has in store for you, the skills you are to develop, and the special work He has for you to accomplish, right now!

Contrary to popular culture, life is not a race to reach a point of complete satisfaction, but a journey to be enjoyed as you go. There will be joys and sorrows throughout every season. If you spend your entire life looking forward to the next thing, you’ll miss the miracles occurring in the present. Just the other day, I was watching my little girl run through the house. As she passed, I thought sadly that her little toddling walk is all that’s left of her babyhood. How I hope that I have fully enjoyed the early season of her life, because it’s almost gone, never to return.

So, are you enjoying the season? Are you taking advantage of your youth, when loving adults meet your needs and allow you to explore your talents and interests? Are you making the most of the “single” life, and discovering the special work God has for you? If not, then get started! This special stage of life won’t last forever. All too soon you will have responsibilities, in the form of a husband, children, a career, or many other things, that will limit your ability to do what you, and you alone enjoy!

What season of life are you experiencing right now? Have you struggled to remain content? What has helped you along the way? Please drop us a line and share.

My name is April M. Anderson, and I’m just a girl with a story. God laid a burden on my heart to pray for my husband when I was in the sixth grade. I prayed and waited for him for six years, dated him for three, and we’ve been married for 15 years. By God’s grace, both my husband and I were virgins on our wedding day and we’ve been living out our “happily ever after” from that day on!

Armed and Virtous Abstinence Ministry encourages young Southeast Texas women to save themselves for the husbands God is preparing for them.