Changeless

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

I spent much of my youth around a loved one who had a medical problem which resulted in a lack of continuity. Continuity in relationships, continuity in emotional stability, and continuity in reactions were missing, causing a hit-and-miss type of thing, a 'guess which way it will go today' game. Needless to say, for a young child, a growing 'tween, and an emotional teenager it was a difficult lifestyle. I was never sure what the new day would bring. Would innocent words be well-received or taken the wrong way? Would my actions or requests of today be treated in a similar manner as last week or would I be dealing with a totally new set of rules and guidelines? I flew to God again and again in tears, wondering why this was happening.

At an early age I latched onto Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. What a concept! Here was Someone who did not change from minute to minute, hour to hour, even day to day. The Jesus of the Sermon on the Mount is the very One I prayed to this morning. The God of the Old Testament is the same God I deal with at this very moment. As He comforted Hagar who was alone in the wilderness with only her son, so He will comfort me when I am feeling alone and vulnerable. The One who led the Israelites out of their horrid slavery, will also show me the way out of my own captivity of psychological addictions. However, it is also a serious reminder to me as well. When God condemned the Israelites for grumbling in the wilderness and went so far as to bring death on them because of it (Numbers 11), it demonstrated how seriously offended He was by His people grumbling about His good gifts. And because He is the same today as He was then, He is still seriously offended when I grumble about things that He has blessed me with or things that He has allowed into my life to help me to grow.

As an adult, I can deal a little better with a lack of continuity in those around me. My own continuity could use a little bolstering now and then as my children can all testify to! Just being a part of a sinful world reminds me that very few things will be the same ten years from now as they are today. Except for God. He will be the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

Precious Lord, thank You for being the God that You are. Thank you for never changing, for always staying the same, and for loving me through it all.

Janine Miller