How did Daylight Savings Time go for you this weekend? Does “springing ahead” disrupt your house? The pros and cons are many, but I will say I enjoy the ability to be outside later in the evenings. But this one hour of time change can wreak havoc on our sleep and health! Change can be difficult in all aspects of our lives. I’d like to explore what the Bible says about dealing with change of all kinds.
Why Is Personal Change So Difficult?
You may be the calmest, coolest, most adaptable person on this earth, but sometimes change can be hard to take. We all resist change in certain areas. Even the small things like my pillow, for example. We find one we like, and that’s what we need for sleep.
Don’t take my pillow. Don’t borrow my pillow. Hands off my pillow.
We like our lives to feel familiar and to know what to expect. A detour on the way to work can cause us to get all worked up- I’ll be late! I don’t know this route! A new boss or the end of a relationship can leave us adrift.
Our world is constantly changing. We are privy to more information than we could possibly want and it is accompanied by all the gritty details. There’s no stopping the world so we can get off.
Technology keeps us chasing after the newest gadget to keep up with our ever-changing world. And don’t get me started on which streaming service I should sign up for or which “Smart TV” I need… Is it time to dump my landline phone? (Yes!)
Big changes can bring big discomfort. We lose our jobs. Our relationships are broken. Finances take a dive.
These changes can be overwhelming, scary, and confusing. I went to bed on a cool September night and woke up at 3 am with a phone call that my Mom had suddenly passed away. Life can change in an instant.
Phew!
Benjamin Franklin famously said that nothing is certain except death and taxes. So with all this change swirling around us, we can feel the need to grab hold of something stable and hang on.
What Does the Bible say about Dealing with Change?
A lot, actually. It can transform your life (truly!) if you embrace these 5 encouraging truths in our rapidly changing world.
#1 God Never Changes
“I am the Lord, and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6 (NKJV)
It’s an interesting place in the Bible for God to remind the Jews of his unchanging nature. This is the last book of the Old Testament and then a period of about 400 “silent” years begins where God does not speak through his prophets.
It’s kind of like he was reminding them, “I’ll still be around, same as always, even though you don’t hear from me.” Big changes continued to happen in their world. But even so, God was at work with his unchanging plan.
He is the same God yesterday, today, and forever.
#2 God’s Love Never Changes
“Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:26 (NLT)
God loves you just as much today as he did before he formed you. He loves you the same on your good days and on bad days. He’s busy loving you when you aren’t feeling it or even trying to lean on Him. God doesn’t base his love for you on your thoughts or behavior.
His love for you is constant because love is God’s character: “God is love” 1 John 4:8. (NLT)
How can God “be” love? It’s hard to imagine, but his every activity and thought is love. It is who he is; his always and forever essence.
Related Post for further Understanding∼ God’s Unfailing Love
#3 God’s Word Never Changes
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35(NIV)
“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 (NLT)
“Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.” Psalm 119:152 (NIV)
God hasn’t changed, and neither has his word. We can stand firmly on his truths. That’s so comforting to me!
#4 God’s Purposes Never Change
“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Psalm 33:11 (NIV) (Bold is mine)
God’s purposes are completely trustworthy and his intentions for your life never change. He is absolutely consistent.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)
We make plans all the time, but you can know for certain that in the end, His purpose will overcome all odds and win. Whatever change he brings, we know it is always for good.
#5 God’s Promises Never Change
Everything that God has told us about himself is true forever. God’s message and promises don’t change just because the world changes.
I love the story of when God took an oath in his own name (because who else is greater?!) to bless/promise Abraham with descendants.
“God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.” (bold is mine) Hebrews 6:17-18 (NLT.)
We can live our lives with bold confidence when we seek refuge in Him!
Hope in God
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)
The unchanging promises of God and his word are the reasons we can always have hope! He created you with love and a purpose that has never changed. We can count on his consistent nature to be the anchor for our souls. This world may be turbulent, but his nature, word, love, purpose, and promises remain firm.
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Dealing With Change
So what does all this mean for us today when change comes knocking??
•We don’t have to plant ourselves in our comfort zones, letting life control us or pass us by.
We can go to our never-changing Father for direction, guidance, comfort and rest. He wants us to experience his boldness and confidence in all situations.
•We can trust in his purposes.
Sometimes dealing with change is uncomfortable, but God doesn’t take us to hard places and dump us there. He has a purpose and plan for our lives. He knows where we need to build up strength and character- trust Him!
•We can hold firm
His word and nature are real things on which we can stand. He is big enough and strong enough to keep us safe in any storm, no matter how high the waves or severity of the storm.
•We can have True Contentment in God
“I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” Philippians 4:11
Did you catch the “learned” part Paul speaks of? He had to learn and so do we.
When we rely on God’s promises and strength, we can see life from God’s point of view.
Later on in verse 13, Paul encourages and reminds us that “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
God isn’t content with leaving us unchanged. “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28.
I love this verse! The “good” Paul speaks of isn’t “everything will work out peachy-keen.” The “good” is that he is transforming us to be more like Jesus every day. We have to accept the changes in order for that to happen.
Depending on God
Without a doubt, change can be a challenge! Maybe it would help us if we thought of change as an opportunity to depend completely on God. We can’t “see” him working behind the scenes, but we can have a deep trust that he is there, guiding and helping us through all of life’s changes.
Reflections on Dealing with Change:
How can thinking about God’s sovereignty help you when you are dealing with change?
Does dealing with change bring along the baggage of anxiety for you?
What changes are the most challenging for you? Why?
Which of the 5 Biblical truths spoke to you?
How can you truly embrace these truths in your own life?
Blessings in the changes!
AnnMarie
Photo Credit: AnnMarie Anderson, Canva
Wonderful post. Just when I think I do fine with change, something comes that shows me I don’t! I loved this statement – It’s kind of like he was reminding them, “I’ll still be around, same as always, even though you don’t hear from me.” Big changes continued to happen in their world. But even so, God was at work with his unchanging plan.
It’s so comforting to be able to remember this in the midst of change or chaos in our lives.
Thanks Fleda! It’s the chaotic times that make me forget who’s in charge of the change in my life. 🙂 This was a great reminder to me that His plan will continue on and always be perfect!
This was great,…
Phil. 4:11 is my verse today to meditate on.
Thanks you, Ann!
I loved the “learning” part of this verse too! It was encouraging to know that we have to work on being content; it just doesn’t come naturally. Change is happening all around us. I am continuing to work on my “gratitude attitude” that has been so helpful in being content with change!