2. Turn, Turn, Turn (1965 The Byrds)
To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time for love, a time for hate A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

3. Turn, Turn, Turn (1965 The Byrds)
To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time for love, a time for hate A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

4. Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 What to do about Time/History
What we experience. Vs. 1-8
What we gain. Vs. 9
What we cannot do. Vs
What we can do. Vs

5. What We Experience
Ecclesiastes 3:1–15 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

6. What We Experience
Ecclesiastes 3:5-8 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

7. Ecclesiastes 3:9 What gain has the worker from his toil?
What We Gain
Ecclesiastes 3:9 What gain has the worker from his toil?

8. What We Gain
Ecclesiastes 1:3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.

9. What We Cannot Do
Ecclesiastes 3: I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

10. ― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
WHY!?
“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it. I've got nothing that I hadn't bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.” 
― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

11. Why do we ask why?

12. Knowing why gives us an ability to cope with pain.
Why do we ask why?
Knowing why gives us an ability to cope with pain.

13. Why do we ask why? Knowing why gives us an ability to cope with pain.
Is my suffering punishment?

14. Why do we ask why? Knowing why gives us an ability to cope with pain.
Is my suffering punishment?
Is my suffering required for a greater good?

15. Why do we ask why? Knowing why gives us an ability to cope with pain.
Is my suffering punishment?
Is my suffering required for a greater good?
Is my suffering arbitrary?

16. Why do we ask why? Knowing why gives us an ability to cope with pain.
Is my suffering punishment?
Is my suffering required for a greater good?
Is my suffering arbitrary?
Knowing why can be a means of control. If I know the system I can work the system.

17. What We Can Do
Ecclesiastes 3: I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man. 14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

18. How can I be joyful in a season of pain?
“If you build your life on things, suffering pulls you away from the source of your joy, and you’re just going to get madder and madder and sadder and sadder and worse and worse, but if you build your life on God, then what happens is suffering drives you into him, drives you deeper into the source of your joy.”
Tim Keller

19. Jesus’ Season of Suffering Produced Joy
Hebrews 12:1–2 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.