“The only constant is change” is a saying that goes back to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus in the 6th century BC. Change is difficult for most people. We often don’t like changing seasons, changing to a new set of shoes, changing homes or changing jobs. Even if you like change, it often comes with challenges.

One of the biggest challenges people face with changes is a feeling of instability or of being lost. You can feel like you’re alone drifting on an ocean. However, even on an ocean, you have the anchor of the stars. I recently watched a documentary on how the Polynesian people navigated to Hawaii and it was amazing how they could hold their hand up to the horizon and use it as a sextant to navigate by the stars.

They key to navigating through change is being anchored to those things that don’t or should not change. Understanding the cycle of the stars as a constant, you can navigate on the ocean with no land to give you your bearings. Understanding the God of the Bible who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17), anchors you through the journey of life.

“But what about when you can’t see the stars and are on the storm-tossed sea?”, you might ask. Well, then, like the disciples, you run for Jesus (Luke 8:23-24). The sun shines whether there are clouds covering it or not. The Lord reigns whether things are working as we would like or not. As with Jesus’ response when the disciples were in the boat fearing for their lives, this is a matter of faith.

Do we trust God through the changes? Is our focus on Him, the author and finisher of our faith? Faith is often tested (James 1:3; 1 Peter 1:7) but also can be strengthened (Romans 4:20) in these times. We all face changes. Let’s do so in the grace of God and grow by them.

Journeying with you,

Pastor Merril