Change is inevitable. It happens constantly, whether we want it or not. I am experiencing change right now as I begin life in college away from home, friends, and familiarity. I feel out of place and uncomfortable, but I take comfort in knowing that no matter how much things change, God never will. Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever,” but what does that mean?

Just look at all the people in the Bible for whom Jesus provided. Moses. Abraham. Noah. David. Daniel. There are countless Bible stories that show God’s provision for His people. If you’ve grown up in church, it may seem like these simple Bible stories are kid stuff, the Sunday school lessons of the past, when in fact, they are still so relevant today. We are taught that God loves us, He provides for us, He protects us, and He has a plan for us, but oftentimes I think we get caught up in thinking that the magnitude of the things that happened in the Bible could never happen today. We think that the way God was so involved in the lives of the people then could never apply to us now. I’ve sometimes thought that the Bible characters were superior and that I could never live a life like theirs. I’ve learned, however, that God never changes. We change, society changes, circumstances change, but God, the one who has an ultimate plan for our life, He will never change. The promises He makes in the Bible are still applicable today. The God of "yesterday," so to speak, is it same God of today. So what do we have to fear? Nothing! We can take so much comfort in knowing that we don't have to fear change or the unknown because we can hold fast to God as our unchanging rock. Psalm 18:2 says: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” God doesn’t change. He is always the same, even when everything else is changing.

Now, with this belief that God doesn’t change, and is always good, we can move forward with confidence into the idea that God doesn’t make mistakes when He leads us into times of change. The outcome of this change is His will even if it seems crazy to us at the time. This is not to say all change is bad or sad or painful, but when it is, and we are scared or nervous about what we are facing we must remember not only that God is constant, but also that He does not make mistakes. We can only see what is right in front of us, but God can see everything and knows when things need to change. He has a plan and is going to execute His plan whether we want the change or not. There’s a verse, that’s kind of clichéd, especially for us recent graduates which is Jeremiah 29:11. It states: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” In light of this verse, we are reminded of God’s plan for us and that His plan is for our good and not our downfall. We might not be happy about the change, we might be scared, but we must keep in mind that God doesn’t change, He is our rock, and He will provide for us as He leads us forward in the changing steps of His plan for our lives.

So as our lives continue to change, and nothing seems permanent or knowable, we can take comfort in knowing that God is the same yesterday, and today, and He will surely stay the same into the future. We don’t have to fear the change as we hold tight and with faith to the Rock that never changes and will always love and provide for us.