This morning, I really have just one thought that I want to spend the day meditating on.
They say the only thing you can count on to NOT change in life – is change itself. I’ve been around a few years now, and I would concur. But then, sometimes life/God just throws a LOT of changes at you in a very short amount of time, and it’s… well, a lot.
That’s what this season has been like. I’m not sure if I can think of one aspect of my life in the past 2 years that hasn’t had some amount of change, and for most aspects, significant change. And as I look into the future, I’m not seeing that leveling out anytime too soon. And change is a funny thing – some change just happens to us when we weren’t even expecting it. Some change we initiate, but without a full realization of how deep the impact and ripple effects of that change are going to be.
I have found myself, after a couple of years of massive changes (house, church, living situation, ministry shifts, staffing transitions, health, kid transitions, and 1,000 more), with what is called “decision fatigue.” Apparently, it’s a real thing. And again, I concur. I’ve never been one that likes making decisions. People who know me know that I can look at a menu in a restaurant for 20 minutes analyzing every option that looks good only to get the exact same thing I always get. But this past couple of years has been decision-making on steroids. Decision fatigue is paralyzing. For me, it shows up by standing in front of my closet every single morning stressed out about what to wear. But let’s put this in perspective – I work in a casual office with no dress code! Usually, I wear jeans and a T-shirt to work, unless I have a meeting! But still, every morning, I have anxiety over deciding what to wear. (This is actually why some of the best leaders only wear the same thing every single day. Think about Steve Jobs – how do you picture him? Black turtleneck. Because that’s what he wore every. single. day. My new mentor – Ruth Haley Barton – does the same thing. There’s a little more variation than just one black turtleneck – but it’s basically the same thing every day. I’m thinking about emptying my closet and then going shopping…)
The other thing decision fatigue does is wears down your ability to make good decisions. And if you’re astute and analytical like I am, that will cause a lot of second-guessing. Which is wearying in and of itself.
So, that leads me to my thought to ponder today. God DOES NOT change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is no shadow in Him due to shifting and changing. Everything will perish, but His Word will stand forever. Now, that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t switch things up on you! Oh no! He does bring a lot of change into our lives. In fact, He’s all about transformation, which can’t happen at all without change. He WILL mess you up! But HE, Himself, will not change. In fact, there are 3 things specifically that won’t change:
- Himself
- His covenant with us – His people
- His Word
So, in the midst of all-things-changing, you can actively rest in that assurance. He will not change. The imagery of His steadfastness is replete in His word. He is the everlasting Rock. A strong tower. A fortress.
So thankful today for His steadfastness.
Here are a few verses to ponder if you need some stability.
- Isaiah 40:8
- Isaiah 59:21
- Micah 3:6
- James 1:17
- Hebrews 13:8