Walking With God Through CancerSample

Day 2: Seasons of Change

One of the first songs I learned to play on my guitar was “Turn! Turn! Turn!” I first heard Pete Seeger’s version; then, in 1965, I fell in love with Roger McGuinn and the Byrds’ version of the iconic song.

Seeger wrote the song in 1959 as he was “just leafing through” the Bible. According to music writer Steve Turner, “So moved was [Seeger] by the ancient poetry that he began creating a melody to which the words could be sung.”* The Byrds’ version topped the charts in 1965 and remains a mainstay of McGuinn’s live performances.

The song (with a few minor tweaks from Seeger) comes from King Solomon’s writing in Ecclesiastes. The wise king wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1‑8 that there is a time and season for everything under heaven, including birth, death, planting, harvesting, mourning, dancing, and peace. The ancient words highlight the balance and order in life’s events.

Solomon’s poignant words remind us that life unfolds in seasons, each with its appointed time. From moments of birth to moments of loss, from times of joy to times of sorrow, every experience has its place in God’s plan.

Embracing change isn’t always easy. We all progress through various seasons of life, but we often don’t move willingly. We may feel the cold weather coming, but we resist the change of seasons. We may struggle to let go of the pleasantly familiar. We may enjoy fall and hate winter, but the fated transition has an appointed time.

Facing change as a caregiver or cancer patient—whether you’re adapting to new treatments or navigating shifts in health conditions—is such a struggle. Coping with the challenges and navigating the transitions with grace, resilience, and peace requires biblical wisdom and practical insight.

We’ve learned we must trust God’s sovereignty. Remember King Solomon’s words: Each season has an appointed time. God is sovereign and faithful, and He is the Director of all seasons of life.

During our current seasons of change, Pam and I have had to stop thinking about what we’re facing and turn to prayer as a source of comfort and strength. We are constantly learning to surrender our fears and anxieties about changes and seek to trust God (Philippians 4:6‑7).

We’ve also discovered that finding truth is better than trusting emotions and our human thought processes. We often need to take the initiative to educate ourselves about conditions and treatments. Even more, we find and cling to the truth in Scripture.

You can embrace other biblical and practical ideas that will help you through seasons of change. We all can find strength, resilience, and peace amid the uncertainties. Remember that you are not alone; God is with you every step of the way, guiding you through the changes and leading you toward healing and wholeness.

A CLOSING THOUGHT

To quote Pastor Warren Wiersbe,

If we cooperate with God’s timing, life will not be meaningless. Everything will be “beautiful in his time” [Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV], even the most difficult experiences of life.**

REFLECTION

Read Joshua 1:9, where we find Joshua facing an enormous task.

• How do God’s words to Joshua prepare him for the changes ahead?
• In what ways can embracing change strengthen your trust in God?
• How can focusing on God’s promises provide comfort during uncertain times?

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*Steve Turner, Turn, Turn, Turn: Popular Songs Inspired by the Bible (Nashville, TN: Worthy Books in association with Museum of the Bible, 2018), 78.

**Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Satisfied, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 45.