Toddlers Saying "I Do"
Dear Friends,
This past weekend I had the privilege of officiating at the wedding of our youngest son. It was a wonderful few days, full of opportunities to reflect on all God has done to bless our family as we walked down memory lane with all kinds of family like aunts and uncles, and grandmas and grandpas. As we sat at the reception, listening to all the stories being shared about the newly married couple, I was struck by the fact that life moves at a very quick pace. One minute it seems like our children are toddlers - wobbling around, breaking things. And then the next thing you know, they’re saying “I do” and walking out into adult life. In other words, life changes - and often very quickly.
This is a reality we all experience. And while many of us think that “change” comes easily for us - the truth is, we all have areas in life in which “change” can be difficult. So we’ll all experience times in life when we will need God to help us get through whatever changes are happening, and that means we need to learn how to have a godly mindset about the changes in our lives.
As I pondered that over the past few days, I was reminded of Malachi 3:6, in which God says, “I am the Lord, and I do not change.” What a comforting verse! With all the changes that we face in life - from our kids growing up, to growing old ourselves, to our finances ebbing and flowing, to job changes, and even to losing loved ones - there is one thing that will never change: God. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And that means that His promises to us will never change - including His great love for us. Hebrews 6:18 drives this point home as it tells us, “God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.”
No matter what happens in life, God’s promises to us will always stand strong. And what has God promised us? All kinds of things! But some of the promises which have been rolling around in my mind include that He will never leave us or forsake us. He’s promised to provide all that we need to navigate through life. He’s promised to draw near to us and comfort us when our hearts are breaking. He’s promised to protect us from the enemy’s attacks. And He’s promised to forgive us of our sins, no matter how many times we stumble and fall. So when we take time to think through his many promises, "change" is actually a powerful way for us to see God at work.
So with all of that in mind, today let’s confidently face whatever changes are going on in our lives. Let’s commit to setting aside our fear, and walking in faith - holding on to the promises of God, and trusting that He is more than able to help us through whatever comes our way. And as we do so, let’s look for God in the changes He brings - so that we can give Him the glory and honor and praise He deserves.
Amen?
Daniel