Piles of boxes, packed and taped. Untaped and unpacked and folded flat, again and again. Saved carefully for next time, because I know there will be a next time. Organizing, rearranging, re-planning our lives. I’m up all night with my old pal Worry. Or is it Hope who sits beside me?
Tonight I tuck into bed my little two-year-old boy. Tomorrow, the page on the calendar will turn and he will be three. When he used to say, “Pick me up!” now he says, “Put me down!” Where before he loved only Mama, now there’s room in his big heart for more. I linger at tuck-in time a little bit longer. Aching at the changes that are coming. Or am I aching at the beauty of all that’s been?
Yesterday I gave up one dream. One long-lived, long-pursued, long-loved dream. But today I picked up another. It hurts to say goodbye. But the possibility… the chances of goodness revealed… the ripple effect that this new choice might cause… I almost shiver to think of it.
We let go of old friends and dare to make new ones. We outgrow our dreams and give birth to fresh hope. Careers change; housing changes; relationships falter.
Sitting in a class last month, trying to fill out the required form, I struggled over this question and others like it: Do you like change? Or does it scare you? Both, I thought.
Because I know something about change.
My family has moved eight times in the last ten years. I have pursued more passions, more hobbies, more career ideas than any one person should. I know the fear that comes with letting go and beginning again, and the excitement. I know that my own heart is fickle when adventure is in the air. I know that even my feelings about change… change. My feelings about change are like a flimsy piece of Scotch tape that will never hold a moving box together.
But I’ve also learned that when the world spins fast around me, one thing never changes: The love of the One who made me.
Psalm 103:17 says, “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children…” He must have known I would doubt. He must have known we would fear. Because He takes time to remind us: from everlasting to everlasting.
And I remember what my friend Nikki whispered when our Discipleship School ended. “During times of change,” she pleaded with us, “Cling to Jesus.” Cling to Jesus.
He is like an anchor that holds us steady. Whether you’re packing up boxes, or saying goodbye to a career, or watching your children grow like I am, the lifeline that is Jesus is only one desperate prayer away.
During times in my life when the change was thick like a fog and I couldn’t see through it, I knew that I only had to call on Him, and He would be there. Like a good father that comes running when his child is hurt. And now I know that seasons of newness aren’t just a time for adventure or a time to be brave. They’re a time to experience how it feels to have your Father running for you. Wrapping His loving arms around you like tape around a box. Good, strong packing tape. Taping you up, holding you together, with the same good, strong love He’s always had.
Times of change give us the chance to experience the constancy of our always-loving, always-Fathering, never-changing God.
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Laura,
I used to get so down on myself when I bristled at change, when I had doubts, worry, and fears. After all, a “good” Christian doesn’t have these feelings, right? Like you pointed out so beautifully, God KNOWS we ALL will have these feelings. That’s why He spends so much of His Word calming our fears and anxieties. He knows our frame and what we tend toward. So at the same time His Word speaks to our inevitable doubts and anxieties – especially concerning change, He also reminds us of His consistency….of His always being there from everlasting to everlasting. There is no where we can go that we aren’t always in His loving care. Thank you for a beautiful reminder of this today!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Crystal says
Laura,
please tell me this is okay!!! I SO needed to hear it!
I shortened your quote and put it on a flowered background.
I wish I could put it here!
Please don’t be mad!!!
Email me and I will email what I did for your approval??!?!
Love in Jesus,Crystal
Laura Costea says
Thank you Bev… I love how you said that He reminds us of His consistency. Yes! Hugs and blessings to you.
Nona says
Thankful for this. Just on time!
Blessings!
Laura Costea says
Thank you, Nona.
Michele Morin says
Psalm 103 is one of my favorites, but I’ve never paused to think about the “everlasting” nature of God in connection with that verse, and since change is one of my challenges as well, I’m thankful for your thoughts today! Blessings to you as you rest in God’s always and forever love.
Laura Costea says
Hmm, good point, Michele! It’s funny how God’s Word speaks to our unique personalities… it’s good we have each other, right? Blessings to you too.
Lara says
Hi Laura,
Your words were right on time for me. Thank you for that! 🙂 I read a funny anecdote before that said, “The only person who likes change is a wet baby.” 🙂 Change is hard. Kids graduating high school and leaving for college. Taking care of elderly parents. Packing up for yet another move. Turning 50 (that’s me in April: :->). Praise God that He walks WITH us through all of our fears and life changes.
Have a blessed day, Laura!
Lara
Laura Costea says
Hi Lara, Ha! I like the wet baby comment… yes, so true 🙂 Hugs and blessings to you, too… changes in all these seasons of life!
Amber says
This. This right here. Your words are so beautiful…it’s as if you captured them from my own heart and soul. I am in the midst of so much change right now…a new city, a new job, about to move to a new house, but most of all, working through the reconciliation of my marriage. In the past 6 months, I have had to say goodbye to my old marriage, my old job, my old town, and all the people in that town. And through it all, His everlasting love has strengthened me and helped me endure when I didn’t think I could. Thank you for sharing this today!
Everlasting to everlasting…
Laura Costea says
That sounds tough, Amber. I’ve stopped to pray for you. Praying that the reconciliation of your marriage would be like a natural byproduct of your intimacy with Jesus. Keep clinging to Him…
Lynn Trahan says
Dear Laura,
What a beautiful picture you’ve painted of our God here, thank you so much for sharing it.
I looked for other pieces posted by you, but I didn’t see your name on the list here or a website for you. If you have more writing, I would be very interested in looking at it for our publication. I wish you all the best in your current endeavor and I’m glad you have found the anchor that holds us all together. I don’t know how people make it without Him.
Sincerely, Lynn
Laura Costea says
Hi Lynn, thank you so much for asking. My blog is: http://www.howtobless.com. You may also email me at writerlaurajane(at)gmail(dot)com. I would love to connect with you. Yes… it would ache to go through life’s changes without Him. Blessings to you too!
Carolyn says
Beautiful! Love the analogy of God being like packing tape…so true. He won’t let go of us. Blessed…everlasting to everlasting!
Laura Costea says
Yes… good, strong, sturdy tape!! And no, He won’t let go. 🙂 Thank you, Carolyn, for reminding me.
Mari dertinger says
Balm for my soul this morning. Beautiful, just beautiful. Thank you for sharing so openly.
Laura Costea says
Thank you, Mari.
Addie says
Thank you for these words of encouragement! I’ve also moved quite a bit – ~15 times in the past 10 years (I’ve lost count), across continents and countries and cultures. I’ve left behind life long dreams to love new neighbours the Lord has called me to serve. Some days I feel so weary and unknown in these times of transition, and it is such a good reminder that even in these times God is steady and present and loving. It is so good to be able to crumble down and allow healing to happen during times of change, instead of braving it with new people and new activities and new hobbies, as the world tells me to do. Thank you for speaking to my heart today!
Laura Costea says
Hi, Addie… that is a lot of moves! Yes, I agree… to crumble down and allow healing to happen, instead of braving it… that is a really good way to put it. Thank you for sharing:)
Debra says
Thank you for this sharing – I am reminded of the full renovation we completed on our home last year – packing box after box and then sealing them all with packing tape – numbering each packed box – creating a master packing list lest the moving/storage company misplace even one packed, sealed and accounted for box – moving into the rental home with but a few boxes sealed with the packing tape – enough stuff to carry us through the stressful process of the renovation – despite all of the stress experienced throughout those months of re—creating our new and improved home, one sure thing, like the tape holding each of our packed boxes together, I felt the arms of Jesus wrapped tightly around my weary body – He was there every step of the way!
Laura Costea says
Hi Debra, wow, you’re reminding me how much work it is to pack up! So glad you felt His love right there with you 🙂
Carolyn says
Thank you, Laura. Sitting in the midst of packing tape and boxes here this morning, needing to be out by the end of January and not yet 100% sure where I’m going, or for how long, your words are a gift to me today!
Laura Costea says
Oh Carolyn, that sounds stressful. I’ve stopped to pray for you.
Carolyn says
Thanks, Laura!
Barb Douma says
You had me at Packing Tape as we are once again on the move as well. Your story relates to what I just wrote about and am working through. For me, it’s not just about change, it’s about the waiting that goes along with it – when will the house sell? How long before we make good friend connections etc.? I am always reminding myself and my kids that God’s timing is always perfect. However, the reality is, that change and waiting are still hard to wade through.
Thank you for your encouraging words this morning.
Laura Costea says
Hi Barb, thank you so much for sharing. Yes, you are absolutely right, it’s not just the change, but the waiting as well. I’m glad He gives us each other, as well as Himself. Blessings to your family as you navigate this next move 🙂
Sheri says
Love His love…and love the way you draw us to Him in your writing.
Thank you,
Sheri
Laura Costea says
Love you friend 🙂
Terri says
Just what I needed as I, too, walk through all of that change…career end… over 1,200 miles of moving away from all that familiar and comfortable…major financial change…always aging…closer to growing family (yay!). Thank you for words and wisdom that reaffirm God’s unfailing love and involvement.
Laura Costea says
Terri, how wonderful to move closer to family! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Brenda says
Hope God allows you to put down roots in your new area for years to come, Laura. I understand. We’ve moved a lot too, and while exciting, “starting over” can be hard on your spirit. ((hug)) And, don’t even get me started on children growing. Ayeyiyi. Mother’s are creatures of sentiment, aren’t we? (I feel like we’re in good company though, as the Bible states in several places that Mary “pondered all these things in her heart.” 🙂 ) Best to you and your family. 🙂
Laura Costea says
Hi Brenda, yes, let’s be “ponderers” like Mary! Thank you for sharing 🙂
MaryMargaret says
Wow!!! This really encouraged me today, made me so happy to read through it. I can identify with it so much because I was an mk(missionary kid). Ive said this before, 🙂 but I am not an adult yet, I’m a sophomore in highschool, but I enjoy these devotionals. I moved countries. 🙂 We are now living in the States, and we have been living in a missionary home, but we have to be out of this home by January 30. We have been looking at different houses, and have not found one yet, we have been praying that God would provided us a house, extra prayer would be great!!!!! Thank you for your post!!!!! I can identify so much with it.
Laura Costea says
MaryMargaret, you go girl!! I am so happy you’ve hopped on here:) I can only imagine growing up overseas… and moving around like that… but, I bet one awesome side-effect, is the fact that it’s taught you to rely on HIM. He loves you, He knows what you need… keep clinging to Him!
Jaime says
This is so true! Your words made me realize that my feelings about change, change, too! You described so beautifully that complicated mix of fear and excitement that come with the anticipation of new things! This was lovely, Laura!
Laura Costea says
thank you, Jaime! Hugs!
Pauline says
Yes, so apt for me, too. At 72 I’m packing – to move from 3rd floor flat. Nowhere definite to buy so staying with friends for……..? Probably months. Decluttering yet again and probably getting rid of most of my furniture to a furniture scheme. So many decisions. It is coming out of Comfort Zone, too! Thanks for the picture of God holding us together like packing tape!
Laura Costea says
Oh, Pauline. Prayers and hugs.
Rebecca L Jones says
So glad He’s always there,wherever we are and no matter what we are going through. I would normally not want anyone to be to clingy, but clinging to Jesus us absolutely necessary.
Laura Costea says
Yes, you got that right, Rebecca! Hugs!
Vickie says
I was literally about to become undone at a change I have to make and it affects so many peoples lives! I feel as if I’ve let everyone down. About to go down and your words were like a life preserver – change is hard but God is there in the midst and I am clinging to Him looking at everlasting to everlasting – Thank You!
Laura Costea says
Oh Vickie. You sound like a true nurturer! I’ve felt that way too at times. It helps me to remember, that those people I’m worried about… God loves them even more than I do. (Crazy, right?) Anyway, thank you for sharing… keep clinging to Him. Hugs 🙂
Jen says
I thrive on change and I don’t, it is such a constantly morphing feeling. I love the excitement and adventure and also get scared. But I’ve learned that clinging to Jesus, like you said, and following his path for me, is the most amazing adventure I’ve ever been on and the more I step out into those uncomfortable places the more I want to follow Him!!
Laura Costea says
That’s awesome, Jen! Thanks for sharing!
Mandy Hawkins says
As a spontaneous person, I never would have imagined my adversity to change. Yet I stand at a crossroads terrified to take a new path. I know what lies behind me. Although that path had twists, turns, potholes, and a rugged terrain, I was familiar with its route. Sure, I could just go off-road and do my own thing… I’ve played there many times. But there’s no true path there. Moving forward will require commitment. My previous road was Emerson’s: far less-traveled. This new route is a highway paved and shared by many others. I was quite comfortable in my solitude, thank you very much. Despite my fears and hesitations, I feel a prompting to forge ahead in faith, knowing His plans are for me, not against me. Thank you for your timely post. I am reminded of His everlasting love and presence as I flip on the turn signal and ready myself for the road ahead.
Blessings to you,
Mandy
Laura Costea says
Mandy, you’re right… change means something different to all of us. But it’s change nonetheless 🙂 Keep on trusting Him, no matter where the road takes you!!
Beth Williams says
Laura,
There can be exciting parts to change. Most people don’t like or dread change. It can be hard. Praise God He never changes.
He is the same now as way back in Noah’s day. I’ve been through some changes in the last 9 years. He was there through it all & I clung to Him in good times & bad. God has great plans for each of us & we must follow His lead on our journey.
Praying this is the last move your family has to take. May He bless you richly!!
Blessings 🙂
Laura Costea says
Thank you, Beth! Hugs!
Francee Strain says
Hello, Pacific NW neighbor! Thank you for your article…I am forwarding it to a friend who is in the midst of an unwanted move, and I think several statements you made will be uplifting to her. Thanks for loving your family, being an encourager, and serving the Lord!
Laura Costea says
Hello Francee! Thank you for your encouragement 🙂