After spending a couple days at home with my family this week, I am reminded of how much things can change. While the familiarity is there, and things can pick up right where they left off, time is still moving forward. People are growing up - even still when they turn fifty. We are all facing each new day just as that: new. My volleyball coach used to tell us that every person puts their shoes on one foot at a time; no matter how much the other team intimidated us, they were still ordinary people just like us. No matter the “success” or fame or ability, we are all human, constrained by time and change.
Something that always encourages my heart when I feel weighed down about the limitation of time and unavoidable change is this: God is making everything new. He is the one and only true God, the God of restoration and renewal. His Word says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He is seated on His throne and is making everything new (Revelation 21:5). We have nothing to fear, for our God is one who does exceedingly more than we could ask, think or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20). While time is passing quickly before us, and change — good and bad — comes all on its own, we can find hope and peace in knowing that God is eternal, and near to us as He transforms us for His glory and our good. The earthly restrictions we experience of time and change are not bigger or more powerful than our Lord!
- Pastor Emma
“I want to change my circumstances. God wants to change me” ~ Rick Warren
“No amount of money, power, and planning can prevent bereavement, dire illness, relationship betrayal, financial disaster, or a host of other troubles from entering your life. Human life is fatally fragile and subject to forces beyond our power to manage. Life is tragic…Only when our greatest love is God, a love that we cannot lose even in death, can we face all things with peace. Grief was not to be eliminated but seasoned and buoyed up with love and hope.” ~ Timothy Keller
