“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
(Hebrews 13:8 NKJV)
“Things change.”
That was the capstone of a conversation I had last night with a dear, long-term friend. We had caught up on the things going on in our lives, and at the end she told me a story that ended with the simple but profound revelation that “Things Change.”
Yes, they do.
Children grow up. Cars are new and then they aren’t. Gas prices go up. Then down. Then up. It snows one day and all melts the next. Parents age. People who were grandparents in your community when you were going up have now been deceased for decades. You have a Big Birthday and realize that some major percentage of your life is probably now behind you. The “spring ahead” change of Daylight Savings Time pounces on you again this year. A friend of your (still young) generation dies. The birds sing again in the spring after a long winter away.
Some changes catch us by surprise and uproot our feeling of stability. Others, like the seasons, are reassuring in their regularity. But, things do change.
That fact isn’t new. The writer of Ecclesiastes told us that there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. Do you have a strong understanding of your God-given purpose in this season of your life?
Some purposes don’t end; we never quit being a parent, even though the type of parenting we do changes as our kids grow. But sometimes purposes – callings – do change; the vocational calling you had as a young adult may have ended and a new direction may have developed. God’s purposes and callings for our lives may change over time, but the center core of his Voice is that he wants to bless us and he causes all things to work together for our good. When it seems like he is pulling you through some sort of transition (which often involves challenges or even pain), know that God’s plans and purposes are for our good, our prosperity, our future, and our hope.
What is the purpose God has given you for this season of your life?
Perfect God,
Thank you that no matter our changing circumstances, you are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Your promises don’t fail; your purposes and plans for our lives are good. Thank you that you call us to purposes, to prosperity, to blessing, and to a future with hope. Help us to remember these good things, especially when the changes in our lives can seem abrupt and harsh. Remind us that you cause ALL things in our lives to work together for our good when we become your children who love you. Even when life seems to be changing in a way that is beyond our control, help us to be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for we were called for the purpose of inheriting a blessing. Give us perseverance and encouragement and unity in our relationships with others so we may glorify you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pray that as our circumstances and even our purposes change, we would stay rooted to the firm foundation of Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we pray, Amen.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NASB)
“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus, so that with one purpose and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6 NASB)
“To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9 NASB)
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB)
“To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV)