Happy Sabbath, church family,
Think about the last time you stood at the edge of the ocean and watched the tide roll in. Or the last time you looked up at a mountain range that has stood for millennia. I love sitting by the ocean watching the waves slowly make their way into shore, and hearing their song. There is a deep, instinctual comfort in looking at things that do not change. In a world where technology updates overnight, schedules shift in an instant, and even the seasons are constantly in flux, our eyes naturally search for a steady horizon, something completely solid that we can rely on.
Scripture constantly invites us to lift our eyes above our daily changing circumstances and gaze at the magnificent, unshakeable character of God. The prayer in Psalm 102 captures this beautifully, contrasting the fleeting nature of the world with the enduring reality of the Creator: "Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end." Psalm 102:25-27
This passage is a breathtaking reminder that before the world even had a foundation, God was present. And long after the anxieties and busyness of our current days have faded into history, He will still be exactly who He is; yesterday, today and tomorrow.
When we reflect on God’s character, we find a beautiful truth known as His immutability, the reality that He does not change. His love doesn't have good days and bad days. His grace doesn't fluctuate based on our performance. His wisdom never becomes outdated, and His capacity for compassion never runs dry. He is the anchor that holds firm, no matter how choppy the waters around us might get.
So often, we spend our energy trying to generate our own peace or manufacture our own stability. But the gospel invites us to find our rest simply in who God is. We can breathe deeply because the God who guided generations before us is the exact same God walking alongside us today, and the very same God who is already standing in our tomorrow. He is our constant, brilliant sun, shining reliably even when the clouds of life temporarily obscure the view.
When we gather together, we get to celebrate this magnificent truth as a family. We aren't relying on our own collective strength or our own shifting wisdom; we are anchored to the everlasting, faithful God who loves us with a changeless love.
As you go about your week, allow yourself the luxury of stepping out of the whirlwind of daily demands for just a moment. Look to the horizon, remember the God who set the stars in place, and find joy in the fact that He remains entirely, beautifully the same.
I encourage you to take a few moments to sit quietly and focus entirely on one attribute of God: His faithfulness, His kindness, or His majesty. How does anchoring your mind in His nature bring a sense of peace to your week?
With blessings, Malin Andersen
