God Never Changes
On Friday, we witnessed a president’s departure and exit from office. On the outside, President Obama and Michelle were composed, gracious, stately (I was always impressed with President Obama’s eloquence of speech and composure), but I suspect, once behind closed doors, they were high 5-ing each other and celebrating that they are free of those ominous responsibilities and the scrutiny of the public.
And at the same time, we witnessed President Trump’s “entering” and “embarking” on his presidency with all the wide-eyed wonder, expectancy, anticipation, aspirations, and desire to help our country be a shining star that leads the way in economic growth, world peace, blessings to its citizens, and so many other hopes and dreams. I was glued to the TV. After all, history was being made right before our eyes – history that will be taught to our young children and grandchildren for years to come.
Exits and entrances. Deaths and births. Endings and beginnings. Goodbyes and hellos. Departures and arrivals. Going and coming.
All those synonyms and antonyms (I looked them up) are reminders of what it is for a season to end and new one begin. Isn’t that life? How often have I witnessed the passing of a friend or loved one and within hours or days, in the same family, was the birth of a precious baby in the same family. It is the cycle of life.
Here’s the really good news. God assures us He’s watching over all our seasons – all our exits and our entrances – in passings and births, in ending kindergarten to begin first grade, in exiting high school and entering college, in exiting single life to enter into married life, in leaving one job to begin another one, in departing one country and entering another. Bottom line…..among all the exits and entrances and all the in-betweens, life, in any form…..is just temporary.
We can throw a tantrum, a pity party, a protest, a sit-in, a march, stay in bed and cover our heads, put our heads in the sand, wail, jump up and down and we can resist the changes……but all the while, I’m picturing God shaking His head as He thinks “Why do my kids get so caught up on so much that is just temporary?” There is one guarantee in life…..change will happen. Change is something we tend to fear and become anxious about because we feel out of control. But there is One who doesn’t change, Who walks with us in every season of life—no matter how easy or difficult. The good news is that God has a plan for our lives to hope, to give us a future, and to prosper us. If we trust in God and allow the change to grow us to become more like Jesus Christ in how we respond and act, then we are promised that “All things will work together for good for those who love Him and keep His commandments!” (Romans 8:28)
Just to reinforce how much God loves us and sincerely cares about us and the changes we face, here are scriptures that affirm His steadfast walk with us.
~ “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6
~ “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Heb13:8
~ “I will teach you the way you should go;
I will instruct you and advise you.” Psalm 32:8
~ “The Lord himself will lead you and be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you, so do not lose courage or be afraid.” Deut 31:8
Bottom line – God orders our days. He knows the seasons we are exiting from and He also knows those we are about to enter. It’s a new day – yesterday is gone. Why don’t we awaken to the assurance that He KNOWS ALL and if we’ll board His ways, we’ll travel higher, further and safer than we could ever imagine. I think I hear Him saying to us –His kids…..”I’ve got this so let go and let Me carry you through each season. Relax. Enjoy the ride. Trust Me!”