Lisa Nagle
I love living in a part of the U.S. where there are four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season brings its own beauty. The colors of fall are the most beautiful!
I love everything about the fall season. I love the change in the weather from hot and humid to cool and crisp. Short-sleeve shirts are exchanged for flannels, hoodies, and cozy sweaters. Trees shed their bright green colors in exchange for orange, yellow and red. The aroma of chili or vegetable soup cooking on the stove fills my home, along with baked goods made with apples or pumpkin.
However, as much as I look forward to this time of year, there are some aspects of it that I dread. Like the seasons, my life has changed. Everything about my life has changed in the last few years.
My husband was a university law professor. The fall season means that he started teaching classes again. We attended football games together and hosted many students in our home for dinner and discussion. What I wouldn’t give to share our dinner table together again and watch him mentor students.
There is so much that changes when we lose our spouses. Family dynamics and traditions change, bank accounts change, grocery lists change, to-do lists change and for me, my address changed.
But there is one thing that doesn’t change: God does not change.
From before time as we know it through all of eternity, God’s attributes remain unchanged. He never gets “better” or “worse.” His plans and promises do not change, ever! His promises were true for Abraham, Moses, and David and they are true for you and me.
This brings comfort and gives me hope because it means I can depend on Him. He won’t stop being faithful, loving and kind, merciful, just, good, or wise.
He won’t because He can’t!
Therefore, when I read His Word in the Bible and it says, “He will never leave me nor forsake me,” (Deut. 31:8) I can rest assured that I am not walking this path alone.
And when I read Isaiah’s words to the broken, discouraged and weary Israelites in Isaiah 40:31 or Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28, I can trust God to keep his word to renew my strength and give me rest.
Psalm 32:8 assures me that God will instruct me and teach me the way I should go. When I need wisdom, James 1:7 reminds me all I need to do is ask!
The list goes on and on. So, let me encourage you to consider God’s promises in light of the fact that He cannot and will not change. How would life be different? Ponder them, memorize them, and let them renew your faith and hope.
God may have changed the direction of our lives, but not His promises.
Prayer: Father, in this season of change we find ourselves in, we thank You that You never change. Your promises are still true today. Help us to trust You and to stand on Your promises! Amen.