My husband and I were married and raised our children in a beautiful city in the wine country of California. My husband was born there (as was his mother), and we called that city home until I turned fifty. We absolutely loved raising our children there, and we love how beautiful it is.
Most of our extended family still lives there, so we have a good reason to return for visits. When we do, at first everything appears just like we remember and that amazing sense of being home floods our senses. During our visits, we will drive around the area as thousands of memories fill our minds. But another thing happens as well; it is the realization that actually everything has changed. We no longer have a home there; all of our kids have moved away, new neighborhoods have sprung up, some of our favorite restaurants are now gone, and we have aged.
The vineyards look the same, and the hills look the same but everything else has changed— even us.
As I think about the changes, I feel a sense of sadness and even loss. Like sand falling through my fingers— time has changed everything. But, once again, I remember that there is only one constant and unchanging thing in our lives— that is our God.
From age to age, generation to generation, he never changes. His love for us and for the world does not change— even as we witness mankind changing for the worse, his goodness and mercy endure forever. His faithfulness never changes, even when the seasons of life change around us. His presence with us never changes, even when those we love move away or pass away. He is our constant and unchanging companion, our friend, our guide, our Father, and our Savior. I change, and you change, but he never changes.
He always remains our refuge in this ever-changing world.
Last time we visited our hometown, we sat with my husband’s dad (my dad, too), who is now 90 years old. As we sat with him, we went through so many photos from the past decades; they all seem like yesterday to us. As we did this, I would see tears running down Dad’s cheeks as we relived the memories together. His wife (our mom) is now gone, his children are now grandparents, most of his grandchildren are parents, his hearing is almost gone, and everything around him has changed. But he clings to one thing— Jesus! Though his heart aches at the constant changes that are out of his control— he has a foundation that will never change.
The Rock of Ages is his sure hope and refuge. It is yours and mine as well.
So— no matter what you are facing and no matter the changes that have altered your life, those who have found Christ have one constant and unchanging reality— our Savior!
Find your home in him, your refuge in him, and your reason for going forward in him. One day, he will make everything new, and we will never experience the tears of loss again.
Anchor your life to him in this ever-changing world and let him always be your home.
Kathi’s new book SEVEN LETTERS, has just been released. Within the pages of this book is the counsel of the Lord for His Church— yesterday, today, and forever.
Purchase here.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Inscribe Ministries
Featured Image by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
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