Change is, as the saying goes, inevitable.
Circumstances change. Seasons come and go. Government leaders step up and stand down. Schools open and close. People in our lives move on. And we ourselves change… we grow, we move, we adapt.
BUT in all this change – some of which can be scary – we can be at peace and be assured of this: that God never changes (Malachi 3:6), and His Word remains forever (1 Peter 1:25). It might be helpful in these ever-changing times to remind ourselves of some of the attributes of God:
- God is eternal. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)
- God is omnipresent (everywhere, all the time). Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? ... you are there! (Psalm 139:7-8)
- God is wise. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Rom.11:33)
- God is good. For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:5)
- God is merciful. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
- God is holy. There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2)
- God is faithful. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
- God is STEADFAST! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
Interestingly, not only is God steadfast, but He calls us to be steadfast too.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.
(1 Corinthians 15:58)
So, how can we remain immovable in a very ‘movable’ world? How do we remain firm and unwavering in the face of challenges?
- Keep our eyes on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Chronicles 16:11)
It's easy to be distracted by everything that is going on around us – COVID 19, natural disasters, protests, unrest – and it is easy to become discouraged by these circumstances. In these times, we should remember where our hope is found, where our strength comes from, and turn our eyes upward. Like Jehoshaphat facing a battle he couldn't see a way out of (2 Chronicles 20), let's respond by turning to God and setting our eyes on Him – and He will lead us to victory. - Spend time in God's Word. (Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 119)
We all know we should be reading God’s Word daily, but how often do we follow through? And when we do, do we approach it as a task to be completed or as an opportunity to hear from God and be encouraged and equipped to live in this ever-changing world? Are we allowing our faith to grow down deep and be firmly rooted in Christ (Colossians 2)? God’s Word has the ability to revive the soul, give wisdom, make our hearts rejoice and enlighten our eyes (Psalm 19). Let’s rush to read it and meditate on it every day! - Stay on our knees. (Ephesians 6:18; James 5:13; Matthew 5:44)
We should never underestimate not only the power of prayer – but what the act of prayer accomplishes in us. Prayer is not about long, flashy sentences or loud exclamations. It is about humbling ourselves before God and genuinely taking the time to speak with Him, sharing our cares and concerns as well as our joys and triumphs. And as we do, we are strengthened and our faith grows. And we find we are able to keep going, to be firm in our convictions and our calling. - Focus on sharing the Gospel. (Matthew 28:18--28)
We have a sure and steadfast hope, an anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6). We know that we have eternal life because of Jesus’ work on the cross, His resurrection and His amazing grace towards us. How can we not share this hope with those we meet? When we encounter people who are disillusioned or confused, let's not shy away from sharing this great gift with them but boldly offer them the grace that we have so freely received.
So, as we step into this new month, a new season – and for some the start of the new academic year – let’s do it with our focus in the right place and hearts committed to being unwavering in the good works which God has called us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
May we remain steadfast, confident in the hope that we have a steadfast God!
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.