All this month we’ve been looking at ways we can rise up when military transitions and changes knock us down. For this week’s Monday Minute, Ashley shares with us how we can rely on God even through change.

Rely on God Even Through Change

by Ashley Saulnier

I am an expert and I am a professional. These words echo in my heart as a veteran.  Being an expert in all of our tasks is essential when leading military members, from deployment to the transition into civilian life. From start to finish, each of these tasks encompasses stress, transition, and change. I’ve observed in military life that whether we like it or not, change is here to stay. 

But, does change ever really become easier?

With nine moves in nine years to include two deployments, an overseas PCS, and two moves since becoming a military wife, I can honestly say change is still hard. But as a Christian, God has definitely shown me a few things to comfort me.

Can we really rely on God even through change?  

We already know that God is ever present, or omnipresent. That’s one of his primary qualities, but it’s much harder to believe this in the midst of hard, numerous, and rapid changes. Particularly throughout a PCS during a pandemic, further D.O.D. restrictions on COVID protocol, and post regulations make it seem like I’m trapped, with no way out.  

How can we deal with all this change, especially when it is so hard to see any of the good?  

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.”

Habakkuk 3:17-19

When I read this, I stepped back and exhaled a sigh of relief. The God of our salvation, the God who lifts us to high places, and the God who is our strength, is well aware of all the change going on in our lives. One of his other qualities is that he is all knowing, or omniscient.  

Habakkuk experienced emptiness from the change of Judah’s status as a holy people to wickedness, only for God to make him aware  that more change was coming. This is primarily why he at first laments to God. But God maintains dialogue with Habakkkuk and reveals his master plan to deliver Judah from all evil to come. As a result, Habakkuk worshiped God. How appropriate to note that Habakkuk’s Hebrew name means, ‘to embrace emptiness.’ 

Embracing Change 

The wonderful thing about today is that God has already revealed his master plan of salvation to us through his Word and son Jesus Christ.  Although we might not know the master plan of our own life, we can rest assured that through all the change, he does have a plan and we are a part of it.  

Like Habakkuk, we can embrace change by worshiping God and revealing his good news to others who do not yet know him.  55 year missionary to India, Amy Carmichael felt the same way.  

“Strength of my heart, I need not fail, Not mind to fear but to obey, With such a Leader, who could quail? Thou art as Thou wert yesterday. Strength of my heart, I rest in Thee, Fulfill Thy purposes through me.”

 

Amy Carmichael

Let us now, rise to the occasion as experts, professionals, and Christian women when change comes our way.  

Rise Up

Pause Turn off all of the screens and take some quiet time early in the morning before everyone arises. Change will come your way today, so take the time with God now and see the goodness of his character by granting you this day so you can become closer to him, even in the midst of change.

Remember God is faithful because his mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22). He’s already given you another day so he has something to show you today. Show him your obedience by honoring him in all you do today even through the changes. 

Build External changes can lead to internal growth. Build upon this principle by reading Habakkuk 3 today and be encouraged by the knowledge that God’s character never changes.  

Prayer 

Father, thank you for showing us how to build upon that which you’ve already revealed to us by your Holy Spirit. Help us to continue to read your Word and engrain it in our memories and hearts, Lord, so that we may remember and display your faithfulness in our daily lives. Lead us this week into more growth through change, knowing that we don’t have to worry since you are never changing. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.