Thy Will Be Done
Dear Friends, July 24, 1998
After several years, I re-established contact with an old high school friend. Through our e-mails we have begun to learn what has happened to each of us during the years since we last met - "catching up" on each others’ lives. . . . "What’s been going on?". . ."Any children?" . . . "What kind of work do you do?" . . ."When was the last time you went home?". . . And in this sharing, I have observed a curious thing about "catching up: we find out more about who we are. In the faces of those who knew us long ago we see the person we have become and we know that we have changed.
Everything changes . . .
In life, nothing ever stays the same. . . nothing is constant. Change comes. . . . Except . . .Change is a constant - it is a given. Change is one of the things that you can count on.
God never changes. . ."For I am the Lord. I change not. . . (Malachi 3:6 KJV)."
We can count on God. Paul writes in his letter to the Hebrews, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)." It is an assurance to us as Christians. An assurance that no matter what happens in our lives - whatever changes come - God is still there and he is in control. God has not left us. He loves us. He still has our best interest at heart. ("And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 KJV) We have this "blessed assurance" that in all of the events in our lives, God is working toward our ultimate good. Knowing this, we are able to say to the Lord, ". . . thy will be done . . . (Matthew 6:10)." and know that it is and know that all is well. We can count on God. Everything else may change but God remains the same.
My friend from high school? A few years ago, when their daughter almost died they learned the true meaning of the phrase, "Thy will be done." They learned to trust God. Change? Yes, change has come. My friend and I have changed since high school. I know that we have changed. We have become people of faith.
In the Master’s Love,
The Preacher
Rev. BWilliamsWaters