Redeeming the Time: Finding Gratitude in the Season of Change

As November arrives, the clocks turn back an hour, marking the end of daylight saving time. For many, this change can feel unsettling—our routines are disrupted, the evenings grow darker sooner, and the days seem shorter. Yet, as Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Even this shift in time serves as a reminder that God is sovereign over all seasons of life—both the literal and the spiritual. The change invites us to slow down, reflect, and align our hearts with God’s rhythm rather than the hurried pace of the world.

As the days grow shorter and cooler, the Thanksgiving season beckons us to embrace gratitude. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul exhorts, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The extra hour we gain can serve as a symbol of grace—time given back to us to rest, pray, or reconnect with loved ones. Instead of viewing the darkness as an inconvenience, we can see it as a quiet invitation to dwell in God’s presence and remember His goodness. Just as Psalm 90:12 teaches, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom,” the shift in time encourages us to value each moment as a gift from the Lord.

This season also provides a powerful opportunity to reset spiritually. As families gather and hearts turn toward gratitude, it’s a time to take inventory—not just of blessings received, but of ways we can grow in generosity and service. Colossians 3:17 reminds us, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” The slowing of time and the quiet evenings can foster deeper reflection on how we live out our faith daily, helping us to realign our focus on what truly matters: loving God and loving others.

So, as the clocks fall back and the Thanksgiving season approaches, may we also “fall back” into God’s grace. Let this change not be a disruption but a divine reminder to rest in Him, to cultivate gratitude, and to redeem the time He has given us. For in every hour—whether bright with sunlight or dim with evening’s stillness—God’s faithfulness remains. As Psalm 118:24 declares, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”