I used to struggle when someone would ask me what it was like living overseas. My reaction was akin to a deer in the headlights. There was so much to say. It was easy; it was hard; it was beautiful; it was ugly; it was filled with light, it was dark. Life abroad was a paradox. ‘I loved it’ was easily intermingled with ‘I hated it.’ This dichotomy led me to bond with Solomon and Ecclesiastes 3.

After his life is meaningless statement in Ecclesiastes 2:17, Solomon writes fourteen paradoxical statements in 3:1-8. They are relatable to us in the present day because we all have undoubtedly experienced those paradoxes in some form. But in 3:10-14, Solomon goes on to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over every season in our lives, the trials and the triumphs.  

Wiersbe says, “Life is something like a doctor’s prescription: taken alone, the ingredients might kill you; but properly blended, they bring healing. God is sovereignly in control and has a time and a purpose for everything (Rom. 8:28). This is not fatalism, nor does it rob us of freedom or responsibility. It is the wise providence of a loving Father Who does all things well and promises to make everything work for good.”

I recently heard this in a sermon message: “Some of the greatest breakthroughs come on the other side of persevering through tough times.” Living overseas was a time of transition for us as we learned live immersed in two different cultures. The one constant was the faithfulness of the Lord as He matured us and equipped us for ministry. These blended ingredients helped us return home with a defined ministry calling – refined through paradox.

Rest assured that wherever He has placed you, He has kingdom work for you. God will show you and grow you in ways you never thought possible.