The Challenge of Change
The past few months have encompassed waves of change—waves best summarized by lyrics of Thomas Rhett's "Life Changes":
"Ain't it funny how life changes/You wake up, ain't nothing the same and life changes..."
So many elements of my life have changed in the past six months, and while many of those changes have been beautiful blessings (i.e. graduating college and beginning my dream job), the fact remains: change is change.
Regardless of how exciting a change may be, I've always struggled with the adjustment phase, merely because of the fact that adjusting requires a lot of energy. Every rhythm of my daily life has been molded into an entirely new rhythm—a beat I'm still learning to master.
I know that with practice, this rhythm will become a beautiful melody. But practice often requires hours of stumbled notes and misappropriated timing before it becomes a thing of beauty.
Lord, give me grace as I practice the the rhythm you've set before me. I'm suddenly a college graduate and working professional—both much-anticipated and eagerly-awaited descriptors—and yet, in my changing world, it's increasingly crucial to remain rooted in the one who doesn't change.
As I try to re-create normality and daily rhythms in the midst of change, I'm drawn even closer to the constancy of the father. It's easy for me to assign the ever-shifting pace of life to my idea of God, assuming that he embodies the fickle nature of the world around me.
I appreciate the beauty of his constancy with a greater depth than I had capacity for when my life was simpler. The truths of his character resonate and remind me that while my environment may be altered, the ground beneath me remains steady. Rather than finding security in my surroundings, I must consciously decide to cling to the truth:
His love for me is constant.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." (Jer. 31:3)
He is always with me.
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:20)
He is my fortress.
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer..." (2 Sam. 22:2)
His goodness is visible.
"Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodnesswhile I am here in the land of the living." (Ps. 27:13)
He will provide for all my needs.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need." (Luke 12:31)
When I compare my circumstances to the constancy of Christ, I find comfort in his consistency. The rhythm of my life is an ever-shifting melody, but when I fix my eyes on the one who crafted the song, I begin to see the beauty of the change that he's called me to.