Thursday, January 22, 2009

Change, Breakfast and the Future...

I am not a person who generally likes change, in fact, I just plain don't like it. I am most comfortable when things remain the same. So for me, when change comes, I find it difficult, at least inwardly, to easily step in line with the new regime. Unless I think up the change and am the one inflicting it upon others, I am usually content with everything to just continue on as they are -- as long as I am happy with the way they are! For example, I eat the same breakfast every weekday. I see no need for variety or surprise at the breakfast table. I find variety brings with it also the opportunity for disappointment. Every morning when I wake up I do things in almost the exact same order: I weigh myself (what woman doesn't?), wash my face, put in my contacts, put on my make up and check my blood sugar. The routine is comforting. And I find as I get older, the routine helps to insure I will remember all the steps!

Our oldest daughter has temporarily moved home to begin practicing law, while at the same time our youngest daughter is about to graduate from high school. These momentous occasions in our family have resulted in both minute and monumental changes in our household, and I find myself tempted to feel "out of sorts" with it all. My husband has asked me "Are you ok?" more times in the last two weeks than I can count, mainly because when I succumb to this temptation to be "out of sorts", I am usually much quieter than usual and somewhat withdrawn. I seem to crawl into a cocoon of my own making.

The problem, though is not the change. The problem is that I am giving in the the temptation to let my satisfaction and peace and comfort come from a circumstance and a set of surroundings rather from a Person. If the arrangement of people, or furniture or level of sound in my house can disturb my comfort and peace, then I am most certainly not casting all my cares upon Him, I am certainly not believing that it is Jesus that is the Author and Finisher of my faith. Because if I were, I would find that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." (Psalm 46:2).

When our faith is in the One who is unchanging, then when circumstances, or people, or conditions change, that to which our faith is affixed doesn't change. We may be disappointed in the circumstances, we may hurt, or as Paul said, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed..." (2 Corinthians 4:8,9) In all the changes we will face in the future -- and one thing we can know for sure about the future is that change is certain -- the one thing that will never change is the Lord Jesus Christ. He will be " ...the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. "(Hebrews 13:8 With that certainty, with that unchanging fact of eternity to steer our universe we can boldly face any change the future has to offer knowing that avoir confiance en le Seigneur toujours et l'ayant nous a tout ...Trust in the Lord always and having Him, we have all.