Life has shifted quickly for us lately. The global economy feels uncertain, we’ve walked through the loss of a dear friend and colleague, and I suddenly find myself helping my youngest daughter research universities. The handwriting on the wall is clear: things are about to change.
None of this should surprise me. My late father-in-law, Pastor Tom Peters, used to say, “There’s one thing that’s certain: change is here to stay.” It’s safe to say that change isn’t a new concept.
I’ve heard the words “Remember when…” many times, usually followed by stories about how things used to be easier. I sometimes wonder if the ease they’re nostalgic for was, at one time, a change people had to adjust to.
In high school, I wasn’t part of the “in” crowd. There were several reasons for that, but I definitely wasn’t cool. My weekends were quiet, and my weeknights were filled with homework.
Oh how I wanted things to change back then!
Nostalgic for the good old days
As time has gone by (eek, it’s been almost 42 years since I graduated from high school), I read messages now and then about “the good old days.” The adults who were part of the cool crowd look back with nostalgia, while misfits like me were relieved when things changed, when we graduated.
Perspective changes everything, doesn’t it?
Sometimes change brings relief, and other times it brings challenge. Many of the shifts happening around the world today are creating an increasingly complex web of issues. If we let it, fear can take hold, especially when the signs of the times seem to point only toward difficulty and decline.
Things are about to change but don’t be afraid
I read Psalm 46 this morning and was struck by verse 2, “we will not fear, though the earth should change…” Throughout history, people have faced change, and when those changes bring confusion, chaos, and reasons to fear, guess what? We don’t have to.
I encourage you to read all of Psalm 46, it’s an incredible passage that opens doors to hope for the future. Yes, things may feel scary right now, with so much unfolding around the world. But God remains the same. He is steady, faithful, and will see us through.
Keep your eyes fixed on Him, we’ll make it to the other side. That is His MO (modus operandi) anyway.
