The More Things Change…
When the calendar turns the page into a new year, there’s always a small, naive prayer that emerges from my spirit: “God, let this be the year when we humans will change our ways, seek your face, practice war no more, and lean into the peace that passes understanding.”
Most years, it only takes a few days to make it clear that my “prayer” is more of a childish wish or aspiration. The more things change on the calendar, the more human behavior stays the same. We’re barely a week into 2025, and it seems like, from my little vantage point, that the roller coaster of human history remains as wild as ever. Already in this short year, there has been:
A tragic terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day
An exploding Cybertruck in Las Vegas
Massive damage and loss due to the fires burning in the Los Angeles area
To our north, the rather abrupt departure of Prime Minister Trudeau
And here at home, there will be continued drama with President Trump as he is about to be (re)inaugurated to the highest office in the land
One friend put it this way, “It’s as if 2025 said to 2024, ‘Hold my beer and watch this!’”
Be that as it may, I take great comfort that God is faithful, stable, and changeless in the most wonderful of ways. God is eternally pure in holiness. And God is always perpetually patient, longsuffering, and merciful toward his wayword children. And because God’s character and nature is faithful, God’s Word is also the same.
That’s why I’m so excited for us to focus on the Bible (Eat this Book!) as we enter 2025.
The Scriptures themselves put it so beautifully:
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:10-12
God’s Word is effective, durable, and totally reliable. And in the end, it's the thing that is going to create lasting spiritual transformation, peace that passes understanding, and joy.
Maybe my turn-of-the-year-prayer isn’t totally naive after all!
– Pastor Gregg