Life is constantly changing. Today we hear that Paul, Aquila, Priscilla, and the disciples of Jesus had to adjust to changes in their lives. We too face and adjust to changes. Obviously, we have all faced rough times over the last years with the Coronavirus crisis. Many of us are working online and others are unemployed. For all of us our lifestyle has changed during the last year.
It is always difficult to face new circumstances and events which change our lives, whether that be the death of a loved one, our own sickness, changes in our community, moving to new places, a new job situation, or realizing our position in church, society and in a family. Many times, in my ministry it has been helping people to deal with the changes they are forced to make in their lives. Change is not always easy. We have to adjust to new ways of dealing with different people and circumstances. It can be disturbing.
However, God wants to be the stable element in our lives. God wants us to depend on Him. If we remain focused on God, we will experience a joy that will never end. Of course, the difficult part is remaining focused on God when everything seems to be changing. Yet, God has to be the center of our attention. With God as our focal point, we will be able to face challenges and changes that come our way.
On the other hand, we have to be willing to let go of what we thought was our security. Everything can change. As a song in Spanish by Mercedes Sosa says, Cambia, todo cambia. Cambia el pelaje la fiera, cambia el cabello del anciano, y así como todo cambia, que yo cambie no es extraño. Cambia todo cambia (It changes, everything changes. The beast changes the fur, the old person changes the hair, and just as everything changes, that I change is not strange. It changes, everything changes).
However, God will be there if we trust in Him and lift up hearts. Let us proclaim, as our psalm today says, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for the Lord has done wondrous deeds.” Perhaps, we do not see the events of our lives as wondrous deeds of God, but God will change the difficulties we face into wondrous deeds. So, let us continue keeping our eyes focused on God. In this way, we experience new things for which we want to sing a new song. As another Spanish song says, “Estoy seguro que aún existen razones para una sonrisa… búscalas” (I’m sure there are still reasons for a smile … look for them). God is our reason. We are not alone.