My family and I arrived at Shenandoah National Park yesterday afternoon, on our way to Washington, D.C., where we’ll spend the next five months on sabbatical at a local church.
Getting to this point has brought us face to face with…change.
And, if you’re like me, change can be hard, even on fun things like a vacation or a sabbatical. The reason, at least from my perspective, revolves around the reality that I’m a routine guy. My routines guide my everyday life, and they are enjoyable. And so, when I’m not walking to my shop to do my quiet time in the morning, my reading books aren’t within reach, and my coffee lacks the usual heavy cream, things can get a little wonky, if you know what I mean.
Maybe you can relate to what I’m talking about?
We all face change, and with change comes the potential for challenges, setbacks, and unmet expectations. That’s just part of living in a broken world with broken people (us included :)). Think about early missionaries to lands and people unknown, families in the 1800s pushing west toward the Pacific, or simply walking across the street to meet and visit with your neighbor who just moved in.
What do all these situations and more have in common?
Change.
And so, how do we deal with change?
Three thoughts:
- Embrace the reality of change.
- Build routines in the midst of change.
- Enjoy the scenery wherever change brings you.
Embrace the reality of change.
From the moment we enter this world, we’re undergoing change. Whether physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, or more. Change is just part of life. Thus, the greater challenges arrive when we don’t plan for change or assume it won’t come. Then, we get hit with the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, the loss of a beloved animal, childhood, empty nest, mental capacities, and so much more.
And so, embracing change enables us to face them with resilience.
Build routines in the midst of change.
Though things around us may change, we can still build routines in the midst of change. I remember watching a scene in the movie Band of Brothers, where Major Richard Winters was shaving in the middle of a battle. It seemed odd to me at the time, but then after more thought, I realized he was creating order through routine in the middle of his very dynamic environment.
And so, building routines cultivates order in the midst of chaos and puts us on the path to peace in the storm.
Enjoy the scenery wherever change brings you.
The picture above is from a morning walk my wife and I took today. Had we not embarked on this journey, embraced the change, and continued our routine of walking together, we would have missed this incredible gift.
And so, even though change is hard, it brings new gifts of beauty and glory.
Reflections.
Christ entered our ever-changing world to bring peace. Not just peace from without, but peace within. Thus, the gospel of Jesus Christ invites those who embrace Christ in faith to an unchanging God…to a promise of future hope with Him…to the promise of experiencing eternally with the Source of all goodness and love.
And so, no matter what changes occur around us and within us, we have the promise of fellowship with an unchanging God…forever.
Question to Ponder: How does the promise that faith in Christ reconciles you to God forever bring you peace in the midst of any change you’re facing today?
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James 1:17
— August 6, 2026