Embracing change

I the LORD do not change (Malachi 3:6).

People change. Sometimes that’s good, but often times it’s bad.

Change is bad when it leads to disappointment. You grow close to someone and decide to get married, but as time goes by the person you thought you knew starts to change. It might be increasing laziness. It might be worsening anger. It might involve growing addicted to something unhealthy or unsettling. Or change might result from medical issues—a stroke, a crippling accident, or the development of a mental disorder. Regardless of the cause, the person you love has changed, and not for the better. As a resul, you’re going to feel disappointed, depressed, maybe even fearful.

We can be grateful that God does not change. He does not go back on His promises. He doesn’t tell us to do something and then pull the rug out from under us by changing His mind. His expectations are constant and everlasting: `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, `Love your neighbor as yourself' (Luke 10:27). When we fail to meet this standard, He promises to have mercy on us if we have been cleansed by the blood of His Son, offered on the cross of Calvary to atone for our sins. With our ugly thoughts, nasty words, and bad behavior forgiven for Jesus’ sake, we are assured of peace with God and a place in His wonderful kingdom forever.

God does not change, but He changes us. He frees us from guilt over mistakes we can do nothing to fix. He works in our hearts, replacing hatred with love, fear with confidence, despair with hope, and sadness with peace. He teaches us how to forgive and let go of the hurts that have put up walls between us. He gives our lives purpose by serving each other instead of only focusing on ourselves.

Of course, all change is scary. It’s hard to give up old grudges. It’s hard to abandon old habits. It’s hard to see old friends walk away because they don’t like the new direction your life is taking as a follower of Christ. Just be sure of this: God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). You can depend on that to never change.