Everything is Beautiful in His Time

Time is one of the few things every person has in equal measure. Each day—rich or poor, young or old, busy or retired—we are all given twenty-four hours. No one gets more. No one gets less. And yet, it often feels like some people can accomplish so much, while others feel constantly rushed, behind, or overwhelmed. We say things like, “I just don’t have enough time,” or “Where did the time go?” We try to save time, spend time, waste time, and even kill time—but time itself keeps moving forward, indifferent to our plans and pressures. This is a hard reality: time marches on.

Many of us, myself included, wish we could go back—to undo mistakes, revisit loved ones, or relive precious moments. But that is not how life works. Time reminds us how little control we actually have. We cannot slow it down, speed it up, or reclaim what has passed. That can feel unsettling in a world that tells us we should always be in control.

This is where the wisdom of Ecclesiastes speaks so honestly and so helpfully.

Ecclesiastes 3 does not offer time-management strategies or productivity tips. Instead, it teaches something far more important: time belongs to God. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Our days are not ultimately governed by our calendars or our competence, but by God’s gracious and sovereign hand.

The Researcher in Ecclesiastes reminds us that every season—birth and death, joy and sorrow, building and tearing down—is ordered by God. None of it is random. Even when life feels confusing or unfair, God is at work in ways we cannot yet see.

Scripture gives us many examples of this, including Joseph. His life was marked by betrayal, injustice, waiting, and suffering. From a human perspective, his story looked disordered and unfair. Yet again and again we are told, “The LORD was with Joseph.” God was not absent in those painful seasons—He was quietly at work, using even hardship to accomplish His good purposes.

The same is true for us. God often calls us to faithfulness in seasons we would never choose for ourselves. Sometimes that faithfulness looks like patience, sometimes endurance, sometimes doing ordinary, unseen work with gratitude. Trust grows when we stop asking, “How do I get out of this?” and begin asking, “How is God calling me to faithfulness right now?”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” This does not mean everything feels good or pleasant. It means everything is rightly ordered according to God’s wisdom. God has also placed eternity in our hearts, yet He does not reveal the full picture to us. We are invited to trust Him without having all the answers.

Because of this, joy is not something we earn—it is something we receive. Work, food, relationships, and daily pleasures are gifts from God, not rewards for good behavior. This shapes how we view our vocations. God works through ordinary callings—parents, workers, neighbors, citizens—to care for His creation. Changing diapers, showing patience, doing honest work, and serving others in love are holy tasks when done in faith.

Ecclesiastes is also honest about injustice and death. Life under the sun can seem unfair, and often it looks like evil prospers. But God has appointed a time for judgment—a day when all things will be set right. Nothing escapes His notice. Everything we accumulate in this life will fade, but God’s work endures forever.

For the Christian, this truth brings freedom. Our hope is not found in earthly success or recognition, but in Christ. We live humbly, joyfully, and responsibly, trusting God with both our time now and our future forever. God rules every season. He gives life as a gift. And He judges with perfect justice and mercy. Because of that, we are freed to live faithfully in the time we have been given.

This week, pause and give thanks for where God has placed you—even if the season is difficult. Trust His guidance. Let gratitude shape how you use your time. And rest in this confidence: the God who orders your days is the same God who has redeemed you in Christ and promises to make all things beautiful in His time.