Equipped for Change by an Unchanging God

We sat at dinner last night talking about the last time we had an empty nest. Frequently, we joke that it was "for fifteen minutes" about "a million years ago." Turns out, we did the math and discovered we were empty nesters for almost a full two years, and it was less than a decade ago! Funny, it didn't feel that way. But, you know, we learned that, as great as that was, it wasn't necessarily the greatest time in our lives. Other things came along, other situations presented themselves, life got very different, but we learned that was good, too. 

In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul says, "...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It was because of Christ in his life, Paul was able to be content no matter his situation. That's important because life is changing all the time. How we look at things can mean the difference between victory or defeat. I don't mean the whole glass half full or half empty ideology; that's great, but it has to be so much more than telling yourself good things. There has to be someone or something better than ourselves and our own self-talk that guarantees a positive outcome. That Someone is Jesus and His providence in our lives. Romans 8:28, says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." All things, even those things that would normally cause discontent or bring hardship.

But, as Paul said, he needed to learn that. When Scott and I went from having children in the house full-time to being by ourselves, I recognized how good it could be, but it didn't feel good. I was a Momma and a homeschooler, and suddenly, I felt like nothing. I had to learn. I had to cry my way through, and pray my way through, and trust the goodness of the Lord every single day. And the Holy Spirit showed me. He showed me how good it could be spending mornings and afternoons with Him, walking the dogs, going wherever He took me, serving others. And then the phone rang, and things changed again. And our house became noisy and crowded, and my time was not entirely my own. And I learned. The Holy Spirit taught me how good it could be to minister to others right in our home and to be a grandmother and a mother again. I learned the things I had placed so much value on just days before were only meant for a time, and that the things of this new season were just as good, or better -- and perfectly suited for the task at hand.

Our life has changed more than once since then. We trust God's words are true, but we also trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and teach us. We will learn to be content no matter the circumstances of our season. We will learn to hold things loosely, for the things we have all belong to the Giver. We will learn that the terms we apply to things: "good, bad, trouble, reward", are merely the way we as humans identify things; but God is not limited by our adjectives or our opinions. And we will learn that God will not fail us or forget us; all that He gives us is good!