written by Connie Dunmyer
Acts 1:7-9 (NIV): 7 He [Jesus] said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority."
Life is cyclical. There are seasons. The seasons are the same in their core. There is some fluctuation of temps and weather events – but it’s all very similar year after year. There also seem to be “times of war” and “times of peace”. Again - cyclical. And when I look and talk with people of my generation, as well as older and younger generations, we all tend to have similar emotions, goals, actions and reactions.
Ecclesiastes certainly reminds us of this:
"Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever." "All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again." "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." And of course "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. . ." I encourage you to read through the various "times" and "seasons" in Ecclesiastes, especially if you are going through a difficult season.
Today I am going through one of those hard seasons – a particularly strong trial, a burdensome storm. Naturally I pray for relief, for an answer to this problem. At times I am awakened in the night in a panic – like a searing hot poker plunged into my heart and brain – keeping me awake – causing me to “panic-pray”. You know the kind – when our hearts beat so fast we can hear it; when we sometimes hyperventilate; when we tend to just yell, whine and complain, rather than have an honest conversation with the Maker of the Universe.
Then one day I read: “It’s not for [me] to know the times or dates”. Whoa! That set me back. It’s almost like God is saying “it’s nun-ya business”. More accurately He's saying “it’s not for me to worry about or deal with.” It’s all in God’s authority and power. My willing it to be so – cannot make it so. My demanding – certainly isn’t going to sway His power and authority. He knows the problem. He knows the solution. He knows the reason. God has already set this in motion. HE has already planned it out and determined the outcome.
I continue to verse 8:
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…"
God has just promised that I will receive “POWER”! And He is going to give me that power HIMSELF. Thus, it will be HIS power. . . Power to pray. Power to stand and withstand. Power to be at peace. Power to overcome. Power to not worry. Power to speak. Power to be silent. Power to understand. Power to not understand but believe anyway. Power to not give in to temptation. Power for all I need. Of course, I’m pretty sure that in order to receive HIS power, I have to relinquish MY pseudo-power . . . Trying to handle things on my own. Trying to put all the pieces back together. Trying to stay back "in the good ol' days". Trying to manipulate my version of success. Trying to get my own way.
My season will end at the appropriate time – for my good and His glory.
I continue to verse 9:
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
How often is God “hidden” by the clouds in my life. Clouds of fear. Clouds of panic. Clouds of depression. Cloud of doubting. Clouds of worry. Clouds of temptation. Clouds of neglecting God. And yet, because He is my Good, Good Father, my Abba, He sends me reminders, showing me things here and there, that He is STILL HERE. The clouds (often of my own creation) are just in the way. But clouds are mere wisps. They may keep me from seeing God – but they cannot stop or slow His power, authority, and glory.
Let's take a look at another time when there were several men who were so blinded by the clouds and storms of life, that they did not recognize the power they already had with them.
As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake… But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't You care that we're going to drown?" When Jesus woke up He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
I think I am quite like the disciples. I find myself saying “don’t You care”. Maybe not in those words exactly – but certainly my fear or worry is saying it. Jesus was right there in the boat! Neither that boat, nor the men IN that boat, were in any danger.
Jesus is right here in MY boat. And He tells me "I'm here. Just take a nap. I've got this." The safest place to be is “in the boat with Jesus”. And if I'm truly trusting Him, I'm truly resting in Him. They are connected. But do not be deceived . . . we cannot "work this up" on our own. It requires a power greater than ourselves - to trust - to rest. Yes. I know it sounds antithetical. But it takes the Power of God, to Rest in Him. Good news! It's a gift. We need only ask.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
“Do not fear.” Do you think God asks us to do something that we CANNOT do? Ok, sure, He asks us for things we cannot in our own power. But in His? Is it ever impossible then? No – of course not. Here he says, “Do not fear”. Do you think God is just trying to make us feel guilty for being afraid? Again, No. I’ve heard it said that in the Bible God tells us to “not fear” 365 times. . . one for every day of the year. He’s telling us to not fear because . . . why? Because He is with us, He will make us strong, and He will help us through. He’s IN THE BOAT with us. He is in this hard season. He is here in the daytime and the nighttime... in the sun and the rain... in the planting and the harvesting… in the drought and the storm. Life may be cyclical, but Jesus is not. He never changes or moves away. Dare to take a nap (to live peace) in your boat just like Jesus. Let's all determine to take that "Power Nap" today. . . and truly rest in the power and promises of our Sovereign God.
My Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for the ability to NOT be afraid. Because You not only have the power to fix the situation – to fix my storm – but You also have the power to keep me from becoming fearful. I always thought that was something I had to kind of “work myself into”, to not be afraid. But You Lord, You have the Power to keep me from fear. Fear is satanic. It does not come from You. It comes from the pits of hell. You are peace. You are MY peace. I will rest in You. Even during this hard season.
Song: Hard Season, by Matthew West
Been a hard season. Been a broken road.
All the dreams I was dreaming, they went up in smoke.
But I keep on believing
There is a reason
For this hard season
Been brought down to my knees. But I’m too weak to pray.
So, God, I hope You can hear the words I can’t say.
Do You know what I’m needing?
Are You still holding me in
This hard season.
[CHORUS]
I lift up my eyes where my help comes from.
I fall in the arms of the only One
Who knows the reason
For every hard season.
Lord, You wrote the story that I can’t see.
So even in the dark my heart will believe
There is a reason
For every hard season.
When the tears and the trials are too many to count.
When my last bit of faith starts to give way to waves of my doubt.
It may feel like I’m drowning,
But I know I’m not alone in
This hard season.
[BRIDGE]
Weeping may last for a moment,
But joy’s gonna come in the morning.
Blessings will flow from these battles,
And beauty will rise from these ashes.
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© 2025: Connie F. Dunmyer, All Rights Reserved.