By: Pastor Lars Janssen
Change is an unsettling constant. Even in times of regularity and seasons of routine our human experience is defined by change.
For example, the first day of spring is next week, reminding us that this season will not be like Narnia’s perpetual winter.
I’ll be celebrating the first day of spring by attending an event called Ministry Leadership Day at Heritage College and Seminary next Thursday (register at: https://discoverheritage.ca/ministry-leadership-day-2025/). The speaker for the day is Mark Vroegop, author of a book called Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy. It’s a powerful book. Vroegop shows the value of biblical lament by wading into several Psalms and the book of Lamentations.
He writes, “To cry is human, but to lament is Christian,” and “Hard is hard. Hard is not bad.” His book’s counsel is helping me see God’s steady hand as I navigate the loss and gain that accompanies this life’s constant and unsettling changes. I am learning that I can complain to God, pray his own promises to him, and then begin to trust him with whatever change comes next.
I say change is unsettling because it often comes with a sense of loss. We move to a new house or get a new car and feel like we’re losing the memories we made in the old one. We start a new job and sense the loss of former co-workers. We see the spring grass poking through the winter snow and start to miss sledding or skating (that one is more true for my kids than me!). Even the ever-present process of aging presents changes that often feel like loss when our capacities or circumstances change.
It’s comforting that lament applies to something as simple as change. As we experience the unsettling sensation of change, we can bring our complaints to the one “with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). Though we can’t quite grasp the concept of changelessness, our changeless God never tires of listening to us: “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24). And he will never leave us alone (Lamentations 3:22–24):
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
God will never change and we will never stop changing—though someday our changes will be free of brokenness (Revelation 21). This reminds me of a song I remember from my youth group days. All Is Well by Robin Mark.
Part of it goes like this:
“All my changes come from Him—He who never changes.
I’m held firm in the grasp of the Rock of all the ages.
All is well with my soul.
He is God in control.
I know not all His plans.
But I know I’m in His hands.”
Change may be an unsettling constant in our lives right now, but our God is creation’s settled constant. He’s listening, keeping his promises, and never leaving us—even in the long dark of winter or the painful loss of change.
Which of his unchanging promises will you pray back to him this week?
