In a couple of weeks I will retire from the United States Navy after serving 30-years. As I reflect upon those 30-years filled with changing jobs every 3-years, moving multiple times to include from Virginia to California to Japan to Virginia, finding a new church to attend, my daughters changing schools, changing doctors, changing or finding new friends there is one constant in the whole process and that is change.
Change is a part of my family’s life and my life. Change is also a part of your life as well. Whether it is moving to the next grade in school, graduation, changing schools, moving, changing jobs, or getting a job no matter where we turn change is a constant in all of our lives. there is a wonderful little book that I have read over the years entitle “Who Moved My Cheese.” This book speaks about how we deal with change through the four characters of Hem, Haw, Sniff, or Scurry. What one learns in reading the book is not only does Change happen but, you need to anticipate change, monitor change, adapt to change quickly, move with the cheese (be adventuresome), enjoy change, and always be ready for change again and again. This is all well and good.
What this book does not talk about, and in particular as Christians, is that there is another constant in our lives of change. A constant that I have seen and continually experience over the past 30-years of living change in the United States Navy is the presence of God. As the Israelites were being led by Joshua and facing all sorts of change coming into the promised land the Israelites were reminded: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go,” (Joshua 1:9).
Throughout Scripture, in particular the Old Testament, we see and hear how God is always present. Whether it is journeying with Abram (later Abraham), Joseph, Moses and Joshua, or Mary and Joseph headed to Bethlehem, and later with Jesus to and from Egypt change is a constant. As constant change is, there is a greater constant in our lives: God.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go,” (Joshua 1:9).
