By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Moving On

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link.

We are in the season of graduation. So many are advancing on to the next level leaving kindergarten, middle school, high school, and college behind. This should be a happy season, but some who are graduating and some of the people who the graduates are leaving behind are not so thrilled. I have talked to both graduates and their families and some truly struggle with the change.

Jesus also “graduated” when he left earth. I can imagine Mary and the other followers of Jesus struggling with Jesus dying, even though he promised he would return.

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mark 8:31 English Standard Version

Change can be hard at times, but it’s also necessary for growth. As much as I miss my children being young, I don’t desire them to continue living in our house long-term. I raised them to be productive members of society and graduating is part of that process.

On the other hand, God does not change. He is always the same.

For I the Lord do not change.
Malachi 3:6 English Standard Version

This is the constant that I cling to; God is always the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Regardless of the chaos around me or the changes I don’t enjoy, I can cling to Jesus. I have found that living in eternity now is the best remedy for the cyclone of change.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3 AMP

So as change comes, and it will, we can sing because Jesus is our constant source of stability.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
James 4:8 ESV

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado