READ: PSALMS 46:1-3; 102:25-27; MALACHI 3:6; JAMES 1:17

The world changed for everyone in 2020. I know my family experienced some big changes in that year. Then 2021 brought even more changes for us, and in 2022 I lost a family member. Looking back to 2019 now, I had no idea what was to come. I never could have guessed the ways that my life would change between then and now.

Change is constant. New leaders come into power, family dynamics shift…there is nothing on this earth that we can be sure will stay the same. God, though—He is never going to change. He is the same God who was present and working in Noah’s day. He guided Noah, giving him instructions to build the ark, and He took care of the ark even in the flood (Genesis 7:1-5; 8:13-22). What peace we can have in knowing that our God is our constant!

When a former friend becomes someone entirely different and they’re no longer the support they used to be, we can cry out to God. When a family member gets sick, we can rely on God to be with us. When everything seems to be falling apart, and when life for us and everyone around us is more of a struggle than it was before, we can know that the God who led the Israelites out of Egypt is the same God who is in control today (Exodus 14). He is still reigning, and He sees all of our pain. We can have hope because He loves us, and that love is the reason Jesus died and rose again to free us from sin and death. He will never change, and once we’ve put our trust in Jesus to save us, His Holy Spirit will help us learn to trust Him in every situation.

Through the changes that I have gone through over the past four years, God has continued to work in my life, and today I can say that I feel closer to Him. I have seen how He doesn’t change. His love for me is always there. His peace is always a part of my life. • Emily Acker

• Jesus has promised to be with us through all the changes we go through, and He invites us to take time to rest in the peace that comes from knowing that He loves us and He doesn’t change. When life feels turbulent and chaotic, how can you take time to remember God’s faithful love and presence? Do you have any favorite Bible verses or stories that help you meditate on these truths? Are there any trusted Christians in your life you can spend time with, people who care about you and remind you of God’s unchanging character? (If no one comes to mind, you can ask God to help you identify someone in the future.)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)