In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him. Ecclesiastes 7:14

We tend to acknowledge God more in our adversity than in our prosperity. We are more likely to acknowledge God’s hand in the storms of life than in the days of smooth sailing. Solomon reminds us that none of our days are outside of God’s purpose. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says there is a season for all things in our life. Some seasons will catch us off-guard and unprepared, but none of them are a surprise to God.

Solomon has taught us that there is wisdom in mourning; that we learn lessons in adversity that are not easily learned in prosperity. Adversity is meant to refine us, not destroy us (James 1:2-4). But what are we to do with prosperity? It is appropriate to rejoice in the day of prosperity. Solomon reminds us that in our joy, we ought to be compelled to worship Him who is our source.

The Apostle Paul tells us that God is at work in all things: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

God is the author of all our days, both in adversity and in prosperity. He is at work in the planned and the unplanned, in the expected and the unexpected, in all things. There is purpose in every season, for our good and His glory.

By Jesse Smith