It’s an old Bob Dylan song but it rings truer every day. Not only is the world changing, quite rapidly, as I can’t keep up with what the new iPhone is available anymore, but life seems in constant motion and change. Do you ever feel like that? You just want the world to stop so you can get off for a minute. Or maybe you’re in the middle of a big change in your own life: a new baby, a move, a job change, a divorce, loss of a loved one, an empty nest, or retirement. Life is change. It never stays the same for long. And change is hard.
My house is quiet now, well quieter. I do still have dogs that bark at butterflies fluttering past the front door. But where once my daughter was belting out song after song throughout the house or my son was telling me one of his nerdy jokes, the silence is deafening. They’ve gone off to college, and it’s quiet. Often too quiet.
Here’s one thing that I remember and cling to daily: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
That brings me comfort. In the roaring waves and rising tides of change, He is my anchor. He doesn’t change. And He is always there for me to cry out to in pain and uncertainty, in fear and confusion, in worry and strife.
When Peter climbed out of that boat to walk to Jesus (Matthew 14), he didn’t see the waves and depth of the water or the distance to shore. He only saw Jesus. It was later, when he felt the spray of water on his face and felt the weight of water soaking his clothes and pulling him down that he took his eyes off Jesus and onto his circumstances. Suddenly fear overwhelmed him. Doubt began to pull him under. Yet, he cried out to the Lord.
And that’s what we have to do. Maybe change was thrust upon you and you were not expecting to suddenly be alone. Lost. Broken. Hurting. Jesus is there, just waiting for you to cry out to Him.
Or maybe you chose a career change. Maybe change wasn’t thrust upon you but you made the change. Happily. Optimistically. Courageously. But then, maybe things didn’t go as you had imagined. Or maybe you didn’t realize the waves would be as massive. Or a sudden storm swept over you. Outside influences caused you to glance around, to see how scary it was out there, how alone you felt, how doubtful, how worried. It’s okay. Jesus is right there with you.
“But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well. “(Matthew 6:33)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Oh Father, change is so hard. We confess we’re scared and worried and feeling alone. But Your Word tells us You are here with us, that You will never leave us. Thank You that even though the world changes around us, life changes, circumstances change, our families change, our jobs change, but You never do. You are the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Tuck us beneath the shelter of Your wing and protect us from the storms of life. Comfort our hearts. Ease the burdens that we are carrying. Fill us with Your truth and Your word. ‘For we know the plans You have for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11” Make our path smooth and straight, so that we can stand firm on Jesus, our rock, and bring glory to You.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
(The Solid Rock, by Edward Mote)
