Seasons change, people change, environments change, the world around us will change. We can change our minds, change our thinking, change our moods, change our behavior, change our style, change our looks, change jobs, change places, change a diaper, change the channel, change a tire, change a vision, make change, be the change, BUT WE CANNOT CHANGE GOD! WHO GOD WAS, WHO GOD STILL IS, WHO GOD WILL BE – WILL NEVER CHANGE!
My good choices or bad choices do not change who God is. My belief or unbelief does not change who God is. My awareness or unawareness does not change who God is. My obedience or disobedience does not change who God is. My opinions, my thoughts, my emotions, my actions, do not change who God is. What I see and what I cannot see, what I have or what I lack, who I am or who I wish I was, everything I’ve done or should have done – NONE OF THESE CHANGES WHO GOD IS. HIS CHARACTER STAYS THE SAME. HIS POWER STAYS THE SAME. HIS FAITHFULNESS STAYS THE SAME. HIS LOVE STAYS THE SAME. HIS TRUTH STAYS THE SAME.
He is not a man. He does not break His promises. He cannot lie. He keeps His Word. Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change …”
GOD WILL ALWAYS BE: Sovereign ~ Faithful ~ Good ~ Omnipotent ~ Redeemer ~ Provider ~ Creator ~ Love ~ Righteous ~ Holy ~ Mighty ~ Judge ~ Restorer ~ Resurrection Life ~ Truth ~ Savior ~ Deliverer ~ Counselor ~ Refuge ~ Lord ~ King ~ All Sufficient ~ More than enough!
The only thing that needs to change is us and how we: Know Him, seek Him, believe Him, love Him, align with Him, trust Him, spend time with Him, honor Him, worship Him, bless Him, acknowledge Him, commune with Him, receive from Him, surrender to Him, BECOME MORE LIKE HIM. He never changes, but I can. We can.
And as we do …. we allow Him to BE. TO BE ALL OF WHO HE ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE
Four years ago Rod and I traded in our 8-seater Ford Expedition for a little, sporty Buick Verano. I cried at first. That big ole SUV carried more than just people, it carried a ton of family memories. Adventures, new beginnings, date nights, friends, visitors from other countries, wonderful times! But it was on it’s last “pistons” so to speak and it was time to get a new vehicle. So my sweet husband found me this cute, sleek car with all the bells and whistles, as he called it, and was so proud to bless me with it. It had blue tooth, touch screen, gps, back up camera, seat warmers, everything electric and computerized, and more ….. everything except space. Interestingly enough though, I myself was personally entering into a season of new things that required me to get focused. It was a time of not worrying about the million other people I love and want to always do things for and help, and to just have a small plate, focused only on the task that was set before me. So God used it as an encouragement, as well as a reminder of the season He was bringing me into. There were a lot of amazing experiences we walked into, some really incredible surprises and celebrations. It was like being blessed with so many “bells and whistles” in our lives that we had never experienced before.
Then last year we came upon an opportunity to trade that Buick in for Rod’s dream truck! It is a bold red, 4-door flat bed truck with a Hemi! He got the truck and I inherited our youngest daughter’s car as she and her husband moved across the United States to live. Now I found myself driving a medium sized sedan, Honda Accord. No bells and whistles, no seat warmers, no back-up camera (had to relearn how to actually turn around and look to back up), no bluetooth, no fancy anything really, but it was extremely comfortable. Like a cozy blanket, I felt safe, confident and comfy in this car. It had just enough room to fit three of my grandkids in their car seats and the material seats made it super easy to vacuum up after them. If they made a mess or spilled something, I was completely at ease with no worries of them hurting the car. A perfect Mimi car. And once again this car represented a season in my life – one that I had grown comfortable with. A season where I kind of knew what tomorrow held and could make plans and go with the flow, and felt confident, safe and secure. A season where the boat wasn’t being rocked, the ground felt steady, life felt semi-predictable, and there wasn’t a lot of major challenging or stretching situations. I’ve been thankful God allowed me to have that season. It has felt good. It has given me a lot of peace and a huge breather. But we can’t stay in those seasons forever, because although there is a lot of peace and rest, if we stay in that nice cozy, comfortable place too long, complacency can begin to breed. As well as a self-reliance, laziness, and a heart that begins to slumber, a passion that carries only a flickering flame instead of a roaring fire for the Lord and the purposes He has for us. See peace and confidence should never be found in myself nor in my circumstances, nor be dependent upon the environment around me. It must always be found in the Lord and in my relationship with Him or soon I will feel as though I don’t need Him and become a prime target for the enemy. Lulled to sleep, bored, which often leads to wandering and giving into temptations that do not bring peace and joy at all in the end.
Today though, as I was leaving to go meet some sweet new mamas over some coffee, Rod told me to use his truck. My heart jumped and felt a little giddy, as I love trucks! This could possibly be a little bit of ‘short person syndrome’ because it means I’m the tall one on the road looking down into everyone else’s cars – a bit of a power trip! I grabbed the keys, unlocked the door and went to climb in. This time though instead of just confidently jumping up into the big cab, I climbed up a little clumsily as I stepped onto the sideboard and had to fumble to find that handle above the door to kind of hoist myself up into the seat. Then I couldn’t reach the pedals – no surprise there! But it felt a little awkward as I’m sure I had to scoot the seat up even closer than normal just so I could press the gas and get the beast roaring! In those initial moments I found myself uncomfortable, feeling completely out of my element and not very confident. As I put it in reverse I questioned if I was even going to be able to judge how far to back up and the massiveness of this vehicle as I drove it down the road. I even felt doubt creep, wondering if when it came time to find a parking place at the coffee shop, was I going to be successful. It’s not like I hadn’t driven his truck before, but for some reason today it felt different. It felt like a challenge. I could feel the power of that Hemi engine as I pressed on the gas and suddenly was overwhelmed with the responsibility that comes with so much power.
It was in that moment I felt God say to me that it’s time again for a new season. Change is in the wind! It is fall! But with the seasons changing in the natural, God is bringing some new things, fresh wind, fresh fire, a crispness in the Spirit. And He wants us to be ready. As I drove down the road I started thinking about this past week and what God has been stirring in my heart. I have had some self-evaluation time and realized I’d become comfortable. I’d become confident within my own stretch and reach and abilities that I wasn’t really being challenged, stepping out of my comfort zones, stretching my faith and really leaning into Him. It’s not a bad place but it can become a dangerous place if we linger there or overstay the season. He reminded me as I felt the power of the engine and the beauty of a “new level” of perspective, that He is calling me onward and into new adventures that was going to require trusting Him, relying on His power, supernatural power and strength, as well as taking on a godly perspective and shift in how I see things. We have been called to look with eyes of faith. We are encouraged that it’s okay to be awkward and clumsy and be out of our element because it is in those places of stepping into the unknowns, completely dependent on God, that He can reveal His power, His faithfulness, His promises, His presence, His protection, His provision – HIMSELF.
As I parked, without hitting anything, I smiled feeling peace and joy, a supernatural comfort in my heart. This time it wasn’t because I was secure in my own abilities or environment. It wasn’t because I was nice and cozy in my own little bit of strength or comfort zone. It was because I know I serve a Big God, who is for me, who loves me, who has great plans and purposes for my life. Who is trustworthy and faithful. Who has the best adventures ahead of me just waiting for me to climb up into, and he’s provided some ‘sideboards’ and ‘hand rails’ to support me along the way! I only need to grab hold of His hand and get on board! The same is true for you! What vehicle is He calling you to step into?
God is always doing a new thing! Around us, through us, for us, and IN us. While He loves us just as we are, right where we are, He also wants us to continue to move forward, to grow in our relationship with Him, as well as in our revelation of Him. He has so many wonderful and new adventures, discoveries, skills, challenges and more for us. That often takes some gentle nudging, a bit of shifting, tender wooing, and even more often than not – some powerful prodding! All done in love, because He never wants us stuck. Not in our selfishness. Not in our habits. Not in our pasts. Not in our personality tests. Not in our emotions. Not in what others have labeled us as, nor the destructive criticism we speak over ourselves. Not in lies or watered-down truths. Not in dangerous cycles or behaviors. Not in unhealthy patterns. And definitely not in our circumstances.
His love is powerful and filled with so much life and goodness for each of us, that He loves us OUT of the chasms of complacency, the pits of pride, the ruts of fear and hopelessness, the caves of isolation, the dark corners of despair. He loves us OUT of our sin, and the blindness that keeps us there and unaware. He calls us out of captivity, where we have been enslaved by our emotions and insecurities. Why? Because He loves us too much to leave us there. This truth brings new meaning to the scripture: For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” He does not want to leave us as we were, or as we still are. He is our helper. He helps us be able to step out, rise above, take the risk, try new things, conquer the old, remove the chains, and break the cycles. Nothing can hold us back, cave us in, beat us down, or lock us up when we come into agreement with His powerful, life-changing love. He pull us out of our slimy pits of pain, breaks the bars of iron, because He holds the keys of freedom. He moves us out beyond our personalities, pity and pride that cage us in like iron gates with heavy locks. He loves, and even longs, to lift us out and set us free with His mighty right hand! He establishes our footing! Sets our feet on solid ground, and puts a NEW SONG in our mouths! Forever changed by His love. He doesn’t leave us there!
What new things does God want to do in your life? What old habits, cycles, attitudes, mindsets, and dangerous beliefs does He want to set you free of? His love is too strong, deep and wide to leave you stuck there. One way I have been able to “take His hand” and start agreeing with His truth and His powerful love is by listening to worship songs that speak about His love for me. I play them while I’m driving, drinking coffee, washing dishes, doing housework, on my computer, walking on the treadmill, getting ready for the day and winding down from the day. The words wash over some pretty stinking thinking, and wash away the residue of the day’s events that would like to get me stuck in worry, doubt, fear, stress, insecurities, self-pity and more. Soon I start to feel new again. He unlocks my perspective. He opens up doorways of hope. Breaks the bars that hold me back and I find myself believing, receiving and clinging to the LOVE OF GOD, ready and willing to walk into the NEW THING He wants to do in me, through me & for me today.
In the season of transition, that in between place of leaving behind the old in order to walk into the new, it is easy to get consumed by all of the unknowns and figuring out how to navigate this new part of our journey – Making plans and researching options. Weighing the facts. Listing the pros and cons. Feeling overwhelmed with the choices. Writing out the questions and waiting for the answers. Wondering if we are ready or not. Feeling rushed to get through it in order to reach our goal, our destination, our vision. The transition itself has so much potential, so much opportunity, that we want to keep that delicate balance or pursuit and drive while still enjoying the journey along the way. We must learn to trust the transition itself and not rush it.
We can get so lost in what is to come or overwhelmed with all of the unknowns, the waiting, the pressure of reaching the goal, that we miss the very moments of here and now. Being consumed by the vision, or the transition, does not make the vision more fulfilling or arrive any faster. In fact, it can make the transition itself feel heavier, longer, and a dread. We get our eyes fixed on the future, the dream, the vision that we lose focus of all that God is wanting us to experience and learn and enjoy today. There is always so much more going on around us, and in us. God’s bigger picture far outweighs the glory of our own. There are endless opportunities for learning and growing and enjoyment during the actual journey of getting there, the transition, and we will miss them if we don’t allow God to lead us to the vision in His timing, His way.
Talk about major transition! I love the picture of the disciples following Jesus. He called. They followed. No questions asked. Without being consumed with what was ahead, they instead looked to THE HEAD, Christ. Those who followed entered a time of transition. Stepping out of the world they had known and into one with a million unknowns. To walk with the One Who was not yet known. They left their places of comfort and stability to follow One who did not have a place to rest his head. The Bible doesn’t say they asked Him where they would be going or how much money they would make or what they would be doing. It doesn’t mention the disciples asking for plans with bullet points or a list of options A, B, & C, although they may have. There was no cruise trip or vacation promised, no retirement fund or money incentive laid before them. Their reward was knowing Him and discovering that they were KNOWN BY HIM.
They answered the Lord’s invitation to follow Him, without the future being mapped out for them. They left it all behind, without getting caught up in the need-to-knows or worrying about the who-to-knows. They hadn’t even had the revelation of knowing fully who HE was! They fixed their eyes on Him and they followed. They learned as they followed. They grew as they followed. Step by step. Day by Day. Every moment brought a new lesson, a value to hold onto, a character quality to grow in, a challenge to overcome. They lived in the NOW. The TODAY. The MOMENT. And each one taught them something so valuable for their future.
There were wow moments and whoa moments. Cowardice moments and courage moments. Moments of fear and moments of freedom. They were free to stretch and grow, free to learn at their own pace, just as who they were, learning through every experience with the one who led them. They experienced miracles and mercy. Provision and promises. They grew in trust and triumph. They learned how to lean in and lean on their friend, Jesus. They learned how to pray and how to heal, how to repent and how to forgive. They learned how to submit to authority & walk in authority. To confess and rest. To fear the Lord. They learned to love the sinner and love themselves.
Their journey of transition was filled with valuable tools and treasures. They laughed. They argued. They got things wrong. Got things right. They asked the questions. Shared their thoughts (even when Jesus knew them before they even spoke a word). They were free to mess up. Free to speak up. Free to wonder. Free to be. They were just – free. They stepped out in faith and followed. And so they learned. What a great reward! The place of transition became their greatest classroom.
They walked with Him and talked to Him. Each step He took, they took. They did not know where they were going, only that they were going wherever he led them. No G.P.S, just J.E.S.U.S. They must have trusted Him. They must have felt something when they were with Him. They must have heard the authority in his voice when he called them, that calmed their nerves and quieted the questions in their minds. They would have seen the depth of love in his eyes that wooed their hearts and canceled the “what-ifs”. His voice must have carried peace and power and promise. And so they followed.
He still gives this invitation today. To each of us. First to give him our lives and our hearts and then to follow Him daily in little ways and big ways. To learn, to grow, to lean in and lean on. To trust. To obey. To watch. To wait. And everything that He stood for and carried then, every bit of authority, every bit of peace, every promise, every bit of love that he had for his disciples, he still carries and offers to each of us today. And where He does this the most, is in our transition! Today, for whatever transition you are currently in or are eventually coming into, you are invited to follow. To follow the footsteps of Jesus, keeping in step with Him. He invites you to look past the planning, the lists, the agendas, the stress of trying to figure it all out. Beyond every unknown and every question and instead of being just driven to follow the dream, hurry the transition, get caught up in comparing or distracted by following a blogger, a ministry, a pastor, a cause, fix your eyes on the ONE who leads out of love, knows you best and knows the road ahead. The One who has a whole lot to offer during the journey of getting there. This will empower you and enable you to TRUST IN TRANSITION and embrace it in its fullness.
Life Interrupted 