16 Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.
Reflection
Change is the enemy.
At least that’s how most of us live day-to-day. Which is certainly ironic, given that a human lifespan is something like 80 years, just a blink of an eye in the grand sweep of God’s time. Consider how much we change just in our first 20 years. From infant to adult, we change in such dramatic ways, not only physically, but psychologically and spiritually. And yet, change is the enemy, despite the fact that our cells regenerate, on average, every 7 to 10 years. We are quite literally not the same people we were 10 years ago.
Here’s some further irony: do you know the two parts of our bodies that generally don’t get replaced? Our hearts and our brains. Is it any wonder we struggle with change? We love what we love, and we grow comfortable with what we’ve learned. Why change it?
Is it any wonder, then, that for people anxious about change, among the most cherished promises of the scripture is this: God does not change (James 1:17). Or, as another biblical writer put it: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
When James says that every good gift comes from above, his point is that an unchanging God can be trusted to provide for us, even as everything around us is constantly shifting. Only an unchanging Creator is positioned to provide for an ever-changing Creation.
So don’t be misled by fear and anxiety. Change is not the enemy. It just is – because that’s what it means to be human. Remember this: God had you yesterday. God kept you today. And God will watch over you tomorrow. So hold on to the promise!
by Joe Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
How does recognizing God’s unchanging character affect your outlook on life’s uncertainties Where do you see evidence of God’s good and perfect gifts, despite our ever-changing circumstances?
Prayer: Loving God, open our eyes to recognize the evidence of your goodness and care all around us. Help us to live gratefully, embracing your gifts and bearing witness to your unwavering love and faithfulness. Amen.
