Finding Your Footing On A Solid Rock

Almost exactly one year ago, my life took a dramatic change.  I retired from a career that was 9-5, and very predictable, into full-time ministry.  It was a difficult change, because I was used to decades of working in a very set routine, with set hours, in a job that I knew inside and out. And then all the sudden I'm thrown into a vocation that doesn't have set hours (if I'm awake I'm the pastor).  And there is no routine, because every single day is different, and every single week is different, and you never know what each day and each week is going to bring until you get into it.  And it was a struggle, because I'm a planner, and you just can't plan in a normal way when there's so many variables.  It has taken pretty much a year to find my footing.  Change is hard.  

I'm not the only one that struggles with change.  One of the biggest challenges we face in life is dealing with the constantly changing nature of our world. More often than not, when people come to talk to me, it is because they are struggling with something that is changing, or has changed in their life.

Change is everywhere. Job transfers, health concerns, relationships begin and end, our economic situation changes—in fact, you're probably dealing with some kind of change right now. Maybe it's major, maybe it's minor, but it's leaving you feeling unsettled. In a world where everything seems to shift constantly, how do we find stability?

We live in a world where change happens at breakneck speed. Some changes we choose, others are thrust upon us. Both types can leave us feeling uncertain. The constant stream of uncertainty creates anxiety and leaves us searching for something stable.

Our natural response to change is feeling anxiety over the unknown.  This is where Hebrews 13:8 offers us hope: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." While everything around us shifts and changes, Jesus Christ remains exactly the same. His character, love, power, and promises don't fluctuate based on circumstances. This isn't just theology—it's an anchor for our souls.

God doesn’t change, and His love remains constant.  Nothing can separate us from it (Romans 8:38-39). His faithfulness never wavers and His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). His power remains unlimited, and He never grows tired or weary (Isaiah 40:28). His wisdom is perfect and unchanging, and He doesn't change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).

How do we practically lean on God's unchanging character? Start each day reminding yourself who God is before diving into your tasks. When facing change, ask: "What does God's unchanging character mean for this situation?" Create regular rhythms that connect you to His unchanging nature.  Get into a regular habit of daily Bible reading, worship, and prayer. These practices anchor your heart in the One who never changes.  Take yourself out of the center of the solutions to life’s problems, and put God in the middle of your life. 

Try it and see!

This week, identify one change you're facing. Instead of focusing on the unknowns, focus on what you do know: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love, power, and wisdom for your situation are unchanged. When anxiety hits, return to this truth. The same God who carried you through every previous change is fully capable of carrying you through this one too. Everything around you may change, but the God who loves you never will.

~Pastor Todd Creason