There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—
A time to be born and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear 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 throw away stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to keep silent and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
– Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I want to make a joke here and say that it’s obviously the time to refrain from embracing, but that aside, here’s what I truly want to say:
Is this not the time to care? This should be the time to fight for the less fortunate, the time to help others heal, the time to speak up.
At the very least, this is not the time to be complacent.
If we are called to love – if you say that this is the time to just give love – then let us do so beyond pretty Facebook posts. If we’re going to love, let us love this way: by doing what we can for those who can’t.
Pray for those who can no longer find the strength to pray for themselves.
Uplift those who can’t pick themselves up.
Help those who can’t find help elsewhere.
Speak for those who are unspoken for.
Encourage those who are discouraged.
Give honor to whom it is due – even when others refuse to.
Seek justice when others turn a blind eye.
Fight for those who can’t.
This is the time to be the body of Christ – to be His mouthpiece, yes, but also to be His hands and feet.
May we not be holed up for the whole day in our rooms, watching Netflix and making TikTok videos while the rest of the world is struggling and grieving. We can lament with them. We can fight with them. We may not be on the physical frontlines but we can be up in arms when it comes to the spiritual battle.
This is the time for the church to rise up. We have so much more hope to give.
