As I write this I am enjoying an at-home day when I can focus on what needs to be done here. As you know, the season of fall leads into the season of winter, and for my area that means we need to put away summer items, have exterior things winterized, and pull coats/hats/boots/gloves from summer storage. Two days ago we had one of those rare “Indian Summer” days in November – it was 70 degrees. I spent most of that beautiful, sunshiny day outside, harvesting final things from the garden and having my kids work on leaf collection in the yard. But today the temperature has plummeted and the gray sky is dumping a mixture of snow and sleet on us; we could have five inches of snow by midday tomorrow. The abrupt shift from a “summer” day two days ago to a “winter” day today is a reality that, truly, things change. Sometimes they change toward what feels like “better” and sometimes toward “worse,” but things change. Period.
Your children grow. Your parents age and die. People change.
You buy a new car. You drive that car. It dies. Cars change.
You have full health and energy to work and care for others. Your health declines and others now care for you. Health changes.
Some people deal with change better than others. I think that part of our response to changing circumstances in our world is dependent on whether our anchor in the changes of life (and especially the storms) is fully sealed in God. Jesus used this illustration: “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” Can we expect change to come? Yes. Can we expect storms to come? Yes. The difference is whether we build our spiritual house – and our hope, faith, and peace – on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. There will be changes and storms, but we won’t be destroyed by them when they come.
God,
You are our refuge and strength, our ever present help in times of struggle or change or storms. Thank you that we don’t have to fear change because you are with us. Even when it seems the entire world is shaking or falling apart, help us remember you have said “DO NOT FEAR,” over and over to us because you love us. You are with us. We are not forsaken or abandoned because you stand with us. Help us to hold on to hope because you are the strength of our lives. We ask all this in the strong name of Christ, Amen.
“God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3 NIV)
If you are walking through a time of dramatic change or storm, I hope this song will help minister to you.
“This Season Will Change” by Josh Smith and Krista Rouse
(c) 2021 Smith & Rouse
I know it’s hard the season you’re in
I know it seems, seems like it won’t end
I know the pain feels like it’s crushing
But I’m here to say hope is arising
This season will change
This season will change
This is not the end of your story
This is just a chapter in time
The Author and Perfecter is moving
Working all things for good
He will not forsake or abandon
He is standing right by your side
You are rising up from these ashes
So much stronger than before
Don’t you give up
Don’t you lose heart
Our God is for us
He sees where you are
Don’t you quit now
Even though it feels so hard
I’m here to say our God makes a way
This season will change
This season will change
This is not the end of your story
This is just a chapter in time
The Author and Perfecter is moving
Working all things for good
He will not forsake or abandon
He is standing right by your side
You are rising up from these ashes
So much stronger than before
He still shuts the mouths of lions
He’s still slaying every giant
Keep holding on to hope
He’s so much stronger than you know
Come and call upon His name
Every tear He’ll wipe away
Keep on holding on to hope
He’s so much stronger than you know