Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán

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We are living through a time of tremendous shifts- political, social, cultural, and spiritual.

Who deserves blame? Who deserves credit?

Does it matter how we respond to times of change? How can we respond faithfully to times of transition in our world?

As we live by faith, we must acknowledge that change is a part of life.

In our country’s history, we can consider that Civil War veterans lived to see the Great Depression, and only six decades passed between the first airplane flight and the Apollo moon landing. As many noted yesterday, many children born after September 11, 2001 are now adults with some already serving in the military.

Time truly marches on.

Major changes are a part of not only our specific national history, but the overall ongoing passage of time.

The wise speaker of Ecclesiastes 3 declared that “to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”

In this passage’s contrasting list, birth and death, planting and harvest, breaking down and building up, along with many other cycles of life, are shared as proof that the one constant is the presence of change.

Change is not only possible in our lives- it is certain.

Our faith cannot prevent change, but it does equip us with a spiritual perspective when changes come.

By faith, we come to be able to acknowledge, accept, and even welcome needed changes.

The last few decades have witnessed dramatic transformations in so many areas of our lives. Technology and transportation advances alone have made everything from our shopping to our missionary support easier, safer, and more convenient.

Socially, changes have occurred that believers should welcome gladly. The Civil Rights Movement for racial equality, awareness to better care for God’s created world, and laws to prevent the exploitation of children, the elderly, and those living with disabilities have all been major changes.

We all tend to resist change unless we can see the benefit in human terms and in the impact changes have on people we love. Change is constant, but as believers we can work to guide the changes in our families, communities, and larger world.

What we do today may well be changed later, but as those seeking to live for Jesus, our goal is to share the life-changing message of Christ.

If we fail to keep His message at the center, and instead cling to one beloved method, we run the risk of losing our grounding in changing times.

All change creates uncertainty, but it is our faith that equips us to hold fast to God as we face the challenges those changes bring.

Change is scary, but the God we serve has not changed- He has not wearied or faded or lost interest in His people.

In times of change, we cannot let our fear of what might happen next blind us to the faithfulness of God in the past.

As change rapidly occurs around us in many areas of life, we can be tempted to default to an appreciation of the past coupled with discouragement in the present and despair about the future.

When we allow the specter of change to overwhelm us, we miss out on seeing the good and precious things God is doing right now in the lives of His people.

Will the forces of change overwhelm us?

Will the constant currents around us drive our roots deeper into better connection with Christ or will these same changes in our world make us petty and bitter towards others?

The changes are certain- how we respond as God’s people is up to us.