I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all. Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
When Solomon wrote these words, he was processing the realities he experienced around him. Realities that are messy, frustrating, and often heartbreaking. He sought to make sense of them so he might have clarity in his life and perhaps help others toward the same goal.
Solomon makes several observations that are “in process” kinds of assessments. But at face value, they feel like ominous declarations that sometimes contradict principles we, as God followers, hold dear.
“Time and chance overtake them all.” Essentially, Solomon decries that life isn’t fair because there is a force of chance that dances over all our best preparations.
I have certainly felt this. Perhaps you have too. All my best preparations did not lead where they “ought” to have led me.
I’ve watched others similarly labor, prepare, and grow, only for the capricious tornadoes of life to rip up and transplant their best efforts. The crown of reward is set on the head of another when a dear friend or loved one “ought” to have been the choice.
These seeming injustices in life can haunt us. They might whisper over our lives that we are victims. They might cloud our hopes and extinguish the spark of joy and anticipation God meant for our lives. Perhaps we sink to that place of feeling like we shouldn’t even bother trying.
While all of this feels a bit discouraging on the surface, if we turn these words over a bit more, there is much comfort we can find in this passage!
There are three comforting truths from Solomon’s ponderings.
1. Comfort in Common Griefs
Solomon, a wise and famous king, knew this frustration. If even the privileged prince and king knew about this struggle, then it is a common one we all share. We are not alone.
If someone so powerful knew how it felt to see his preparations (or someone else’s he cared about) swept away, powerless to alter it, then we too are wise to remember that times like these come upon everyone — from the greatest to the least.
Not one of us is above these types of discouragements. We are wise not to let these kinds of circumstances rob us by allowing ourselves to believe the lie that we are victims of.
When we have trudged up a very long, steep mountain with the hope of reaching the top and life’s storms send an avalanche of troubles, then we can remember, no matter how unique it feels, that this sort of thing happens to people everywhere.
My grandmother was married a year and a day before the Navy sent my grandpa off to serve during World War II. Despite the great pain and worry she felt over her newlywed husband, she said she took comfort in knowing that she wasn’t alone.
Women all over the country — and the world — felt the same way. While she barely allowed herself to exhale until Grandpa was home, women everywhere also held their breath until their husbands, fathers, sons, fiancées, and loved ones returned home. There was solace in the “commonness” of the heartache because that made it a shared pain.
No one is immune to these kinds of grief in life. And if we choose, we can take comfort in that.
2. Comfort in God’s Sovereignty Over All of Life
We can also take comfort in the hope that while some of life seems negatively dictated by a force of “chance,” we can know that ultimately God is our refuge and strength. Solomon also knew this and closed his book with the words:
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
If we rest our trust in the Lord and pursue a life of pleasing Him, we can rest in His good sovereignty over our lives, not like a genie that grants all our wishes, but as a loving father who looks out for his child.
When we look at life through the lens of faith, we can see glints of golden purpose shine in the rubble of circumstance instead of merely seeing the forces of chance bearing down upon us.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
This verse is often quoted, but it is only well-worn because we all need to be reminded of it so regularly. We need to anchor our hearts in the hope of seeing God’s hand work good even in the worst situations.
David, Solomon’s father, put it this way:
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD (Psalm 27:13-14).
When circumstances threaten despair, if we wait, we will surely see God’s goodness shine. This hope can pull us through the dark days of grief until our circumstances are changed.
3. Comfort in Knowing Where to Take Our Hurts
While Solomon’s words on the surface appear to contradict what we want our faith to look like and sound like, there is much comfort in knowing that, just like Solomon, we can pour out those messy thoughts and feelings before the Lord.
There’s no inner processing that God won’t work through with us. Nothing too messy or sinful or wrong for us to open before Him if we are asking for His help.
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us (Psalms 62:8).
There is much comfort when we realize that just as Solomon came to God with the messy inner processing of his perspective, we can too. We can come to God with all our feelings and frustrations. We can ask for His help sorting them and for His truth in them.
We can take comfort that every person experiences disappointments and heartaches that seem unfair. And we can take much comfort in the truth that God is not done with a situation just because it looks like a demolition zone. We serve a God who specializes in bringing beauty from ashes and rebuilding ruins (Isaiah 61:3-4).
I hope you are encouraged to process your perspective with the Lord and that your heart takes courage to wait for God’s goodness to show up!
For further reading:
What Does the ‘The Race That is Set Before Us’ Mean?
Will God Bring Me Through This Battle?
Why Is ‘The Battle Is Not Yours’ So Encouraging?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/pixelfit
April Motl is a pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, and women’s ministry director. When she’s not waist-deep in the joys and jobs of motherhood, being a wife, and serving at church, she writes and teaches for women. You can find more encouraging resources from April here and here.
