Embrace Your Changing World
Solomon's famous book of Ecclesiastes talks about change. In one breath he says that there's nothing new under the sun. But then he says things like this:
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
Notice the changing nature of things in his words? There's a season for this, but then that season is done, and it's a season for that, and then that season comes to an end, and on it goes.
God Works Through the Seasons of Change
Nothing stays the same. Everything has its time, and then it changes.
Another great saint who discovered this was Daniel. In one of his great prayers, he worships God and proclaims how God makes changes: "Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: 'Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.'" (Daniel 2:19-21)
Things change. God brings about changing times, changing seasons, changing leaders, changing systems. Nothing stays the same. You have to deal with that. You have to deal with the fact that things are not going to stay like they always were.
Maybe this is why some people love taking photographs! Some people hate photos, of course! But some people are always saying let's get a picture, and I'm starting to think it's because they want to preserve something that is destined to change. They want to preserve a moment in time that was precious, but temporary. SNAP - the picture goes into the folder, so we can look back and remember how things were.
The Bible's Great Characters Embraced Change
How are you dealing with change? Are you living in the past because you are unwilling to face the present? God wants us to deal with it! To embrace a changing world!
Everywhere in the Bible you see people having to embrace change.
Abraham gets called out of the land of his father. Change.
Joseph ends up in one tricky situation after the next. Constant change.
Moses and the Israelites escape Egypt and find their way to the Promised Land. Change.
Skipping forward a bit, a young Mary gets visited by an angel and told you're going to fall pregnant with God's child! Talk about change!
Fishermen and tax-collectors leave their nets behind to follow the Messiah. Change!
Paul is a fierce Pharisee, and Jesus meets him and gives him a new purpose to be an apostle to Gentiles. Change.
Everywhere in the Bible, God introduces changing situations and circumstances to His people, and they have to deal with the change. They have to embrace their changing world.
Whatever change you are facing, approach it like the great characters of the Bible would you? Trust that God has not only brought this change for a good reason, but will give you strength to deal with it. Embrace your changing world with joy, as you see God at work even in the change.
God's people throughout Scripture had to embrace constant change, and He calls us to do the same today. Trust that God has not only brought the change in your life for a good reason, but will give you the strength to deal with it.