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THANKFUL HE IS UNCHANGEABLE
Posted By Susanne
I’m one of those people who finds change hard. I tend to get very comfortable in my life. I like familiarity and I wrap it around me like a nice warm afghan. I bury down and pull that blanket right up to my chin not wanting to get out from underneath it for anything.
But God calls me to change. His Spirit draws me into change because He is trying to make us more like Christ. Sometimes the change is small or taken in small steps. Sometimes it is huge and requires large steps of faith and sometimes I’m just hanging on with all I’ve got to Him.
But as the winds of change swirl around me God calls me to thankfulness.
Thank [God] in everything – no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks; for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
I Thessalonians 5:18 Amplified Bible
But sometimes I think what do I have to be thankful for? Everything is changing or the change He is trying to bring about in me is too hard! But then God gently reminds me that no matter what the circumstances are the one thing I can count on, the one thing I can be thankful for no matter what, is He does not change.
Malachi 3:16 God clearly and straightforwardly tells us:
“I the Lord do not change.” (New International Version)
And in Numbers 23:19 He again reminds us:
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” (NIV)
So today I am thankful that my God is someone I can count on. When all else around me is shifting and moving He is The Rock of My Salvation. Unmoving and Unchanging.
Discussion:
Have you, in the past year, felt the winds of change? Did you find that being thankful, no matter how hard, helped to focus you on the faithfulness and unchangeableness of God?
Nov 28th, 2006
My last year has been full of the wonderful changes of my daughter growing and our business growing. And I am so very thankful that the last year has been so good.
But I too am so scared that something big will change the rhythm of our days. I am crazy busy with our business and websites and mothering my adorable girl, but I don’t want any of it to change. Life is good but I definitely spend too much time worrying that it will stop being so good.
Good thoughts, Susanne. Well put.
Being the type to run ahead of God when I think it is time for change, I find the Lord often has to hold me back in those times. I would jump in, burn all the bridges, and never look back, while He really intends for a moregradual change, one that my husband might be able to handle.
This has been a year of change for which I am thankful. We have moved from one health issue (serious food allergies) to another (seizures with Rachel and asthma with Esther). I am now working part time, very involved in women’s ministry, deliberately homeschooling–this year I had to let the school district know we were and very busy in general. The Lord has been changing some things for the better, others for the worse. I am thankful that He has done it in a way that allows me my change and cushions it for my husband. I cold do without the health issues of course but it is explaining a lot of behaviors that we had noticed and for that I am grateful.
Oh Lordy have I. I use to get angry at all the change. And the big change was moving me to the other side of the US from my family. But God is Faithful (he never leaves), and God is everywhere you go. And I have found when he asks for change it is for the better and because he wants to bless you. It took awhile for that to sink in. Great post.
Great post, Susanne. I don’t deal well with change at all! And so the fact that God is constant and unchanging is such a comfort to me. I’m so thankful that He is my rock even when it feels like everything is out of control.
This particular lift could come at no better time for me, and I sincerely thank you!!! My father is currently in a sub-acute rehabilitation facility ; I spoke to his doctor (FINALLY!!!) last evening. My dad’s condition is now, as I suspected, even more debilitated than when he went in. I am now facing changes that are beyond my physical capacity to care for him, in the area of adult diapers, his inability to walk without direct supervision, needing help as far as being lifted in and out of furniture, dressing, bathing - and all of these are overwhelming and frightening changes, for which I am going to need to find competent, longer term care. So - thank you for this “lift”!
Yes, change can leave you feeling extremely vulnerable. I needed to be reminded today that in spite of all the change in my own life, God doesn’t change. Just typing this brings comfort. Thank You Susanne!
God has been changing my perspective on some things lately. It isn’t easy, but like you I’m very glad that God is always right there with me, and He NEVER changes!
I usually think I can handle change well, until I’m put in a situation where I have to change! I do not deal well with change. I like my stability, surroundings, etc. Yet, in my service to God on the mission field, I find that change is more normal than I prefer!
I’m in a stage of life right now that I think is also going to be changing, as they always do! I’m encouraged that God is always there. He NEVER changes. He NEVER leaves us. He’s ALWAYS nearby. One challenge I see in that, though, is am I always nearby to Him…am I constantly seeking Him? We cannot grow in the Lord unless we have a relationship with Him, and a relationship takes work.
The last year, I have been thankful for the security that God has protected me with; for the ability to learn another language fluently; to communicate with those of another culture. God has been with me every step of the way. When I have been discouraged, He has been there to encourage me to keep going and not give up.
I can thank HIM for His faithfulness to me!
Yes, Susanne, this past year was absolutely one of big changes for me. And yes, knowing that God is steadfast and does not change comforted me all throughout this past year. It still does. Things are still changing. Thank you for stating it so simply. I should print this and hang it somewhere where I’ll see it constantly.
I’m reminded of that great Hymn “The Solid Rock”… My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness…. wholy lean on Jesus Name. On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand.”
Thanks for such a great reminder that God is unchangeable!!!