Nothing is ever permanent – 13 February 2023

The 23-year-old blonde Ashley Oosthuizen recently sent a touching letter to her loved ones from her prison cell in Thailand. She was sentenced to 33 years behind bars after being arrested at a restaurant in Thailand in 2020. She signed for a package (which contained drugs). It was addressed to a friend of the owner of the restaurant. To this day, Ashley denies knowing what was in the package.

In her letter, Ashley confessed that at times she finds herself at an abyss and wonders how she will get through this difficult season of her life. What helps her in these moments is to look into herself and to God, knowing that, “Nothing is ever permanent”.

Ashley is right. No good season lasts forever. Likewise, no challenging season lasts forever. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 we read: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot … a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance … He [God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (NIV)

The secret to staying positive in good and challenging seasons, is to check our hearts constantly to ensure negative seeds do not take root to diminish our faith, and to look to God, knowing that he is able to turn any challenging situation into something beautiful. May we remember this week: Nothing is ever permanent. God bless.

Prayer: Father God, thank you for being in control of my life. Please help me to remember in each season that nothing is ever permanent. Protect my heart and help me to keep my eyes on you. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen