But I Don't Like Change! - From His Heart - Week of February 6
BUT I DON'T LIKE CHANGE!
"How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?" Psalm 137:4
When I was in seventh grade, my family moved from California to Texas. I can still remember getting off the plane in August at Houston’s Intercontinental Airport and feeling humidity for the first time in my life. Whoa!! It was hard to get a good breath. It seemed like we had landed in someone’s armpit. I was not ready for all the changes that were getting ready to come into my life. But ready or not, here they came.
LIFE IS ALWAYS CHANGING
Have you come to the realization that life is all about change? A new school year is all about change: new students, new teachers, new classes, and new challenges. A new job is all about change: a new boss, a new job assignment, and a new work environment. A new city is all about change: a new culture, new friends, and a new way of doing things.
The bottom line with change is this: it produces a new normal for us.
Now as much as we may want everything to stay the same, it won’t. We can whine and gripe and complain and long for “the good ole days,” but where does that get us? You see, the trick to enjoying life is to learn to roll with the punches, adapt to the changes, embrace a new normal, and keep our eyes on Jesus. That key enables us to have joy and contentment in the midst of change.
HE WILL NEVER CHANGE
While life may change around us, and sometimes at a rapid rate, the Lord never changes. He is “the same yesterday and today, yes and forever” (Heb 13:8). He says in the Book of Malachi, “For I, the LORD, do not change” (Mal 3:6). That is definitely good news when experiencing the unavoidable fluctuations and alterations of life.
No matter what changes you may be facing today, you can rest in the fact that:
1. God’s love for you will never change, regardless of what you do or don’t do.
2. God’s faithfulness to you will never change; you can count on Him 24–7.
3. God’s control over all situations will never change; He will always be the Sovereign King.
TAKE IT FROM AN APOSTLE
The Apostle Paul is the poster child for rolling with the punches. Paul had his eyes on Jesus and knew that the Lord was in control. So he did not worry, fret, or complain when changes came into his life. He simply trusted God and let the Lord take the lemons and make lemonade.
In one instance in his life, God specifically led him to preach in Philippi. He was preaching away, boldly telling people about Jesus when the bottom dropped out. He was seized, beaten, arrested, and thrown in prison. Well, that doesn’t seem right when you are serving and obeying God, does it? How would he respond to this change in his life? The Bible tells us at midnight, Paul “was praying and singing hymns of praise to God” (Acts 16:25).
Can you believe it? How can you be rejoicing, Paul? Here’s how: he learned the secret.
For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:11-13)
LEARNING THE SECRET
The sooner you and I learn the secret that the Lord will give us strength in any and every circumstance; the sooner we can live a life of contentment, regardless of the changes that may befall us.
Remember, God reigns over every trial and every change. He has a purpose in it all. So do like Paul did and trust Jesus in every situation.
Thank God for the changes and rejoice, even in the midst of suffering and uncertainty. The Lord will give you a song as you accept every change in life with the confidence that the God who loves you, who died for you, and who rose again for you is using all the changes for your good and His glory (Rom 8:28).
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve
From His Heart Ministries
P.S. I would love to hear from you. Let me know what is going on in your life and how we can pray for you at pastorjeff@fromhisheart.org.
Jeff Schreve founded From His Heart Ministries, www.fromhisheart.org, in 2005 with the vision to reach as many people as possible with the good news of God's love. Jeff believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a great plan just for you. He broadcast on radio, TV and in the internet around the world from his pulpit ministry as Pastor of First Baptist in Texarkana, Texas. This ministry is completely listener/viewer supported. It continues only through the faithful and generous gifts of people like you. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All gifts go to further the broadcast.
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