Ecclesiastes 3:1

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Change is a part of life. We all know this simple truth. If there is one thing we can count on, it is that changes are coming, whether we want them to or not. Change happens!

The pandemic brought great changes to our lives. With the onset of the pandemic, we were immediately faced with the need to make changes—we changed our plans, we changed our habits, we even changed who we would and would not spend time with. The changes were dramatic and challenged us.

With the pandemic slowly beginning to fade, we find ourselves facing a time of great change once again. Is it time to take off the masks? Is it time to reenter social gatherings? Is it time to return to in person church? Once again, the changes challenge us.

In Ecclesiastes chapter 3, we are reminded that there are times for all kinds of seasons in life. And, between each season there is change. Life unfolds, sometimes in wonderful ways and sometimes in challenging ways, but always with the reality and promise of change. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Change also impacts our church in many ways. In order to write this devotional, I took a break from planning for Pastor Tim’s departure. His life is about to change dramatically, at least for a season. And his absence from our church means change for Desert Spring.

Remembering the language of Ecclesiastes chapter 3, Pastor Tim will be entering into a “season” of rest, with all the changes the season brings. Desert Spring will be entering into a “season” of post pandemic visioning and rebuilding for a vital future, with all the changes the season brings. Meanwhile, all of us are entering into a new “season” of life with all the season brings to us.

What changes are you currently facing? What does your season of life look like now? What changes can you see coming?

Whatever the changes Pastor Tim faces, whatever the changes our church faces, whatever the changes you are facing in your own life, Proverbs 3 reminds us of how we, as people of God, navigate times of change. We trust in the Lord, leaning not on our own understanding. Instead, we submit to God knowing God will make our paths straight. No matter what the change we face, by trusting in God we discover that there is one thing in life that will never change—God will continue to love us, to lead us, to equip us for every kind of change, and ultimately to lead us home.

Changes come. We have experienced many in the past year. We will experience more in the days and weeks and months to come. And, in the midst of the changes, we hold on to God who makes our path straight. Thanks be to God. Amen.

I hope to see you in church.

Pastor Dave