Laura L. Smith
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THE ONLY THING CONSTANT

8/21/2017

6 Comments

 
​Last year the music icon, David Bowie died. I loved his music. And his multi-colored eyes. And his song, “Changes”. “Ch-ch-ch-changes, turn to face the strange.” Our lives are always changing. And those changes can seem strange or awesome or unexpected or confusing or exciting or unsettling or just plain unknown. As Heraclitus of Ephesus put it, “The only thing constant is change.”

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Two guys who had something to say about change--
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David Bowie and Heraclitus of Ephesus
​Does it ring true for you? Do you have any changes in your life right now? Big ones? Small ones? Ones you’ve been planning for? Ones that blindsided you?
 
With back to school our family’s life is jam packed with change—new teams, new teachers, new classes, new students. There are minor changes, like the 24 emails I’ve received in the last week about my kids’ soccer teams. Twenty-four! Each and every one detailed some change. We have a joyous change—our youngest just outgrew his peanut allergy (praise Jesus!). If you read last week’s blog, you know we just dropped our oldest off at college. That is a major life changer. I’m still a bit weepy, so I won’t dwell on it, but at least we had eighteen years to prepare for it.
 
But part of that predicted change took us by surprise. Like the fact that the week before we took Maddie to college:
1. One of her three roommates decided not to come to school this year and
2. Maddie’s college soccer coach resigned.
 
We didn’t see those coming.
But you know what? God did. God has never once been blindsided. God has known for ages where Maddie would go to school. He knew exactly why the one roommate needed to wait a year. God knew the coaching staff was going to change. Sometimes the need for change is immediately obvious to us. Some things we may never figure out. But we don’t need to. Not if we stay true to who we are and trust that God has promised to be on our side. Because whatever’s going on, He’s got it.
 
So the roommate thing? I don’t know why it shook down like it did, but I do know my daughter and her other roommate stayed true to their plan, they went ahead and moved in. Now the two of them share a ginormous dorm room designed for three or four girls. I don’t know the details about the coach, but it sounds like she had a fantastic opportunity that was important for her to take. And all the girls on the team, Maddie included, who showed up to the first meeting and to practice, they still get to play college soccer. And…the new coach is fantastic! 
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​Our family is in the midst of some other transitions, too. We understand why we’re here, but we don’t yet quite understand how it’s all going to play out. On many levels we don’t know what this shift looks like yet. But God does. And He’s working in and through it. Our family plans to stick together, put in our best effort, stay true to our identity and trust God with the rest. Whatever is changing in your life, God is working in and through it, too.
 
Most of the time I can accept change. I remind myself, “God must have a reason.” But then I stumble, “What is the reason? When will I know the reason? If this door is closed or that door is opened, how is God going to guide me next? What does this new path look like?”
I want to know. Oh, how very desperately I want to know. But I don’t have to know.
 
Because Heraclitus of Ephesus was wrong. The only thing constant is Jesus. And even though everything else changes. God does not. Not ever. I can cling to that. So can you.
 
Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. —Hebrews 13:8
 
That means Jesus is never going away (Revelation 1:8). He’s never giving up on us. He will never forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). He will always love us (Romans 8:38-39). Jesus is always working things out for good (Romans 8:28). Whew. When I sink into those truths, changes are not only okay, but the question marks are okay, too. There is excitement in the fact that God is on the move, even if I have no idea how or what that looks like. Because Jesus doesn’t change, He is the one thing we can count on. Always.
​So here we go, folks. I don’t know what changes are staring you down as you read this, or which ones will surprise you next week or next month. But I do know when those changes come, we don’t have to face them by ourselves. We can stand strong in who God created us to be. God will be the constant we can cling to. The rock that is Jesus is unmoving. 
6 Comments
Mary Zychowicz
8/22/2017 01:45:11 pm

I stumbled onto your website while working on getting my own author website up and going. I was linked through an online article by agent Amanda Luedeke. It was from 2012 and I need to see what she is currently doing. In any event, I was so pleased to find your website and blog. Though it is a different platform than my own, (children's picture books), it is one that resonates well with me; the love and worship of our Lord and creator. I just wanted to tell you that I love your web design as well as your content. And I love this song, "The Rock Won't Move". God seems to keep putting little "widgets" in front of me as I go down this writer's path to keep me encouraged. I have a way to go to publication. I think it is no coincidence that I ended up at your site. God bless you and your family. You have some wonderful inspiration here.

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Laura Smith link
8/23/2017 04:37:52 am

Mary,
I'm so glad you stumbled across my site. God is so faithful. I love the way He gives us the words and ideas and encouragement we need exactly when we need it! I'm so excited for you that you're writing for kiddos. Such important work. Have you checked out Sparkhouse Family? They're a fairly new Christian publisher putting out quality kids books and they're accepting submissions. Might be worth a peek :). Blessing to you, girl!

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Mary Zychowicz
8/23/2017 06:24:13 am

Yes, God is faithful! I haven't hear about Sparkhouse Family. I will certainly look into that. I appreciate the information. Blessings to you too!

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Laura Smith link
8/26/2017 07:22:07 am

Keep writing, girl! Our God is grand!

Olivia Smeltzer
8/25/2017 05:29:09 pm

Isn't your article is so "spot on." You reinforce, remind, and comfort me in knowing that our Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and future. Now, for me to apply this! God bless you and all your family big-time.

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Laura Smith link
8/26/2017 07:23:48 am

Olivia, so glad God could speak to you through this blog. I take such comfort in His constancy. When my world is swirling I try to go outside--look at the stars, listen to the birds, take in how consistent and eternal He is, how in control our Lord and Savior is. I breathe it in and try to hold onto that glorious truth! Have a blessed weekend!

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