Cling to the Rock of Stability

What storms of life are you experiencing today? What changes do you find unsettling? How do you cope in an unstable and unpredictable world?

Today’s facebook Friday offers encouraging words posted by Wayne Greeson from the Church of Christ bulletins and articles page via the Connersville Church of Christ.

A 50-year-old fisherman clung to the jagged rocks off Dog Island in the Caribbean, battling six-foot waves. The waves from Tropical Storm Earl in September 2022 started to intensify, injuring and stranding him on the rocks. The waves washed over the rocks and the fisherman as he held tight.
The Coast Guard deployed a rescue helicopter to drop down a rescuer to harness the injured fisherman and lift him off the rocks to safety.

“Fortunately, the survivor was able to hang on until we could arrive, and we are all glad that he is safe,” the commander said.

Like surging seas and crashing waves, our world is filled with constant change. In the 1960s, Bob Dylan sang, “The Times, They Are A-Changin’”.

In the 1970s, David Bowie sang “Changes” “(Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes) turn and face the strange (ch-ch-changes)… Time may change me, but I can’t trace time.”

The rapid pace of change creates stress in your life. Dr. Thomas Holmes, co-creator of “The Holmes and Rahe Life Changes Stress Rating Scale,” claimed 43 things in life create stress, trouble, and health problems when changes come.

Alvin Toffler in his best seller Future Shock, coined the term “future shock” to describe the confusion and stress caused by the rapid changes we face in the future.

How do you stabilize your life in the midst of continual change? Like the fisherman in stormy seas, when everything around you is rapidly changing, you look for a rock of stability where you can find security.

Is there anything that you can cling to that is permanent when the storms of change wash over you? Is there anything that is reliable and never changes?
God is a steadfast unchanging Rock in the storms of change surrounding us. I am speaking of God’s immutability. This simply means God never changes. God says, “For I am the LORD, I do not change.” Malachi 3:6. He is always the same. He always has been; He always will be.

Because He is perfect, He can’t get better and He can’t get worse therefore, He’ll never change. Because God never changes He is a Rock of stability. You can always count on Him.

The unchanging God was David’s rock of stability.

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2.

With God as his rock, David was able to withstand the forces of change. “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.” Psalm 62:2,6.

While large rocks seem to be permanent and unchanging, even these can be worn down, broken apart and moved. But not so with God. When this world ceases to be, He will continue unchanged.

“Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.” Psalm 102:25-27.

James says “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17.

The Phillips translation says: “…with God there is never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency.” Only God never changes. God is who he is, He remains the same, He has no variation or shadow due to change.

Jesus explained why you need to build your life upon the solid rock, the unchanging God.

“Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:47-49.

Sometimes changes come and rise up on you like a flood. When the flood waters fiercely beat against you, you need a firm foundation that will stand strong and not be shaken. “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands….” 2 Timothy 2:19.

“Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.” Psalm 125:1-2.

Make the God who changes not, your Rock.

Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me.
Henry F. Lyte, “Abide with Me” 1847.