Some days I don’t understand it, and most days I don’t need to. God’s timing… His season… His reason… It’s hard to make sense of it all, but we know that whatever His hand is upon is complete in His time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 tells us,

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a 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 together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, 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. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

And so it is… one season after another God carries me through. The death of my mother a year ago… a time to die… a time to weep. A two-month-long sickness within me that abruptly ended just as quickly as it came on… a time to suffer… a time to heal… a time to get up. The birth of our beautiful granddaughter last summer… a time to love… a time to rejoice. Getting back to work on a Bible study… a time to plant… a time to build up.

Finally, last Fall I got to working on the final chapter of a Bible study on the books of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John. There I was trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Trying to get it done in my timing. Wondering how this little book of the Bible could take me so long. Why wasn’t I finished? Why didn’t I feel God’s hand in all this?

And then He redirected my steps to the book of Genesis. More specifically to the life of Joseph.

I got to work. Hard work and long hours. I set up my own space to work at my husband’s office where I’m free from the distractions of dogs and television and food. A place where I can focus on the work God has set before me.

It’s a good season for me. Lonely at times since my youngest son just graduated high school last year, and my two oldest kids have moved out. But it’s a good season nonetheless. A season to study… a season to write… a season to share the gospel…

And so I do. I get up every morning, hop in my car, drive down to work, and sit at my desk planting the seeds He sets before me. Word after word I read and I write and I listen to the life of Joseph wondering what God wants us to learn in all of this. Hoping this journey will soon be complete, but letting Him lead as I write.

And it takes long. Longer than I hoped. But then I’m reminded…

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. – Proverbs 16:9

I see his hand in all this, as He guides and trains. He brings me through a time of waiting, and sorrow, and laughter and pain to prepare me for each step that we take.

And so I ask you to be patient with this little Canadian writer. Knowing that I’m working on our next Bible study. Leaning on His wisdom and timing. Trusting that He’ll order my steps.

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About the Author

Darlene Schacht and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada where the summers are beautiful and the winters are cold. Together they’ve come to learn that relationships aren’t always easy, but that marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a treasure worth fighting for.

She began her publishing journey about twelve years ago when she pioneered one of the first online magazines for Christian women, known at the time as “Christian Women Online Magazine.” After three years, Darlene left CWO to blog as a solo author at Time-Warp Wife Ministries.

It was also during this transition that she worked alongside actress Candace Cameron Bure to write the NYT Best-Selling book, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Spiritual and Physical FitnessReshaping it All was the winner of both the 2011 USA Best Book Awards and the 2012 Christian Reading Retailers Choice Awards.

Author of more than 15 books, Darlene continues to write and to minister to her readers through her blog at TimeWarpWife.com.

Connect with Darlene:

Facebook: @timewarpwife
Instagram: @timewarpwife
Pinterest: @timewarpwife
Twitter: @timewarpwife

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife