Change and The One Who Never Changes

Change. Are you a person who likes change or one who doesn’t?  I’m definitely a person who loves for things to stay the same.  I like to stick to my schedule, my routines, and my plans for my life.

But that’s not the way that life works, and as much as I’d like for things to always stay the same, they just don’t. As many of you dear readers know, my family and I underwent one of the biggest life changes lately…. moving!  And not just moving across town, but moving from Iowa to California.  Iowa, my much-loved, always home near family, wonderful church friends, my family farm, the most loving neighbors in the world, and countless other treasures. To California, the land of breathtaking natural beautiful, unending mild weather, but so much unknown.

And so now we’ve been here for a little over six weeks and we’ve endured so much CHANGE. Instead of going to grandma’s, we Facetime with grandma in the afternoons. Instead of talking to everyone at church, we challenge each other to just learn one new name (the kids get a scoop of ice cream when they get home if they will just learn one new name!).

We go to the beach on Sunday afternoons, are greeted with palm trees out our kitchen window, and see snow capped mountains as we return our library books.  We do schoolwork in the hammock out back, and the kids ripstik outside all day long.

There have been so many amazing answers to prayer. The kids love their new homeschool community, our neighbors have already invited us into their lives and homes, and we found a wonderful, Bible preaching church right in our neighborhood. We truly love it here, and we are so thankful for all of God’s provision.

But, I’m not going to sugar-coat it. The amount of change has been immeasurable, and many times it has left me reeling. As much as we love all of the new aspects of our new home, it is just kind of hard to wrap my mind around my new circumstances.

And I’m left with only one option- to turn to the One who never changes. These verses have brought me so much comfort lately. I literally have repeated them to myself hundreds of times, and the peace that comes truly passes understanding.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

I the LORD do not change. Malachai 3:6

I AM who I AM. Exodus 3:14

I’ve also been thinking a lot about my plans verses God’s plans. I never would’ve dreamed that we would be raising our kids in California, but God knew.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16

So friend, if you too are going through a season of change, know that God NEVER changes and that He knows exactly what will happen with your precious life. And best of all, he cares so deeply for you and for me.

Cast all your cares upon him because he cares for you. I Peter 5:7

P.S. Funny things about California:

1. The pastor thanked everyone for coming out to church in the cold, cold weather. It was in the 50’s.
2. Californian’s put “the” before the interstate number. “Take Rancho California Road until you get to the 215. Go North on the 215.”
3. We have three recycling bins and one trash bin. Save the earth!
4. There are many cute dogs in our neighborhood, and most of them wear sweaters on their morning walks. (I’ll try to post some pictures sometime.)