The God that Never Changes

Well, here it is. A time I knew was coming soon. A time I was excited about, yet nervous. A time I was happy about, yet sad. The closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. I just finished my fifth and my last year of seminary. It has been quite the journey and one I will never forget. As this time has been coming to a close, I have be reminiscing. This has caused me to have all kinds of emotions.

Sadness- I am sad because I should have been in Charlotte with many of my friends attending my last seminary class in person. Instead, we had to attend class online due to the state that our world is in right now. Had I have known my last in person class was last semester, I would have had a sweeter goodbye when the time came.

Disappointed- I am bummed because graduation has been cancelled. There will be a virtual graduation, but we will not be walking across the stage together. Something we have all been looking forward to. This was supposed to be the year I graduated with most of my friends that I started seminary with 5 years ago.

Thankful- I’m thankful for the opportunity to go to seminary and finish not one, but two, masters degrees. I’m thankful for the continued support of my family, my church, my pastor, my mentor and my friends. I could not have done it without you. I’m also thankful for my professors, my advisors, my school administration and my classmates. You have made this journey unique. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity that you have given me over the past 5 years. When you walk in the door to introduce yourself and they say “oh I know who you are” you begin to wonder if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. In this instance it was a good thing. The students and staff at Gordon-Conwell have become like family to me. It is also through this journey that I have met some of my very dearest friends. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.

Excited- I am excited for the new journey that is ahead! And for the sleep that I am about to enjoy : )

In Awe- I am in awe of God’s never ending goodness and mercy. It’s still amazing to me that I am actually graduating (again). There have been many times when I’ve wondered why I was here. Being in seminary made me realize how much I actually don’t know. The one thing I do know is God’s plans are greater than any plans we could ever have and his love never fails!

Tired- This journey has been amazing, but it’s been exhausting. I’m physically and emotionally tired. I have been for a while. A lot has happened in my life in the past 5 years. It has flat out worn me out (maybe that’s partly because I’m getting older). I wouldn’t change it for anything though.

For a while now, I have been hearing the question “what are you going to do when you graduate?” My response is always sleep and do the same things I’m doing now. I actually started thinking about that response and that’s not true. Forgive me, Lord. I will not be doing the same things I am now. In fact, my life actually has a lot of change going on right now. For starters, I won’t be staying up all night to finish a paper I procrastinated on. If I’m up late writing, it’s because I want to be. I also have other changes going on in my life right now. They are all good changes, but they are still changes.

Changes happen all the time. Jobs change, ministry changes, friends change, where we live changes. The list could go on. However, I find comfort in knowing a God that doesn’t change. The Bible says that Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. The same Jesus that lived 2,000 years ago is the same Jesus that lives today.

Malachi 3:6 says “For I the Lord do not change.” We can have satisfaction in knowing that God does not change. He is the one constant in our lives. When it seems like the whole world around us is spinning, God remains steady. When it seems like our lives are messy, God remains clean. When we are stumbling, we can hold on to God our rock. God never changes! His love never changes. His joy never changes. His grace never changes. God is the God that never changes!